Gates to North Great Georges St.

there was a drawing in the last Sunday Times…..

madness…. trying to have their own little demense…..

fomr todays paper

CLOSURE OF CITY STREET

Sir, – Your readers may be aware of a Dublin Corporation proposal to facilitate the permanent closure and erection of gates on the Parnell Street junction of North Great George’s Street in the centre of Dublin.

This proposal is currently going through the planning process and I would strenuously request that all objectors make their objections known to the Principal Planning Officer at City Hall.

North Great George’s Street is a planned 18th-century street whose vista is closed at the top of the hill by the magnificent Belvedere House. The planned closure will obstruct this view and close off an access route which the city inhabitants, both vehicular and pedestrian, have enjoyed for over 200 years.

In addition, the security of the area will be gravely compromised by the proposed closure as it will inhibit the movement of both garda and other emergency and service vehicles.

There has been virtually no public debate about this unprecedented action. I have lived on this inner city street for 15 years and have chosen to be a part of the wonderful renewal and regeneration of the city centre. I am dismayed to find that it is now proposed to convert my area to a suburban “close” which arrogantly turns it back on the city of which it has been an integral part for so long. – Yours, etc.,

J. BRIAN WALSH, North Great George’s Street, Dublin 1.

Yes, they do not seem to applying for right to extinguish the right of way, just prevent motor vehicles.

I think most of the comments on this topic have been a little harsh on Sen. David Norris and his fellow residents of Nth. Great George’s St., possibly as a result of the Sunday Times article on the matter. Senator Norris appeared much more reasonable about the proposal on the radio than the article would suggest, and I think there are some reasonable arguments in favour of putting gates on the street. For example, the problem of joyriding in the area is quite prevalent, and only recently there was an incident in nearby Hill street where joyriders crashed a double-decker bus into an apartment building. Surely its not unreasonable to try and prevent incidents such as these. I also don’t agree that it would create a snobby “enclave” as the proposal only suggests gating one end, and pedestrian access would be uninhibited. And as has been said in this forum already gates at this end would appear to have a historical precedent. Also the argument that they would impede emergency vehicles seems a little dubious as fire engines (presumably from Tara St.) would approach the street from the ungated Marlborough St. end and ambulances from the Mater or Temple St. Hospital would surely use Hill St.

IN response to Johns note date 27th March

Why must gates be necessary to calm traffic. The proposal is for Gates 5 ft. in height. A simple change in level or numerous other traffic calming methods could be undertaken to solve any serious issues of joyriding, although I must refute Senator Norris’ claim of a joyriding problem. I have lived on North Great Georges Street for over two years and have never encountered such problems.

The issue of alternative routing for traffic has not been considered. As was noted, the reported bus accident took place on Hill Street. The traffic buid up on this street would no doubt double as a result of the closure of North Great Georges Street. Having witnessed the many children using Hill street as a palyground the possibilty for further accidents would no doubt increase.