Limerick City and County Council’s Covid-19 plan is set for implementation following the completion of a wide-ranging consultation process with the public and other stakeholders.
The majority of proposals outlined by the local authority in its ‘Guiding Limerick Through Covid-19’ plan will now take place for the summer months of July and August.
The proposals have been designed to encourage more people to visit Limerick city centre and help to support businesses as they navigate through the Covid-19 impact.
It will see space reallocated in the core city centre area to boost footfall thus aiding with the economic recovery. It will allow street animation and events to take place to attract more visitors into the city as part of a suite of measures being provided as Limerick starts the recovery from the impact and uncertainty of Covid-19.
Alterations were made to the original proposals followed a detailed review of the 464 submissions received during a two-week public consultation period, taking into account serious concerns by traders and employers. Two hundred and fifty-six of the submissions were broadly in favour of the proposals; 163 raised issues among some of the proposals while the remaining 45 were neutral.
Following a review of the submissions and a meeting of an Advisory Group comprising of representatives from councillors, retailers and other business owners, Limerick Chamber, An Garda Síochána, Limerick Cycling, Irish Pedestrian Network and Liveable Limerick, the following changes to our public spaces will now be implemented for July and August 2020.
Pedestrianisation
Catherine Street - between Glentworth Street and Cecil Street |
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Denmark Street and Robert Street |
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Nicholas Street - between King John’s Castle and Newgate Lane |
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Howley’s Quay |
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Reassigning Road Space
Shannon Bridge |
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City Quays |
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Old Dublin Road |
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South Circular Road |
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O’Callaghan Strand |
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Planning will also be fast tracked on two strategic cycle lanes:
LIT – City Centre |
The design for the LIT to City Centre will be advanced through the Part VIII Planning process. |
Mungret – Raheen |
Progress the installation of a cycle path between Quinn’s Cross in Mungret and the Raheen Roundabout. |
An advisory 25km/h speed limit is being introduced in the core business district, while a number of ‘Click and Collect’ parking spaces are being provided on Catherine Street, Roches Street and William Street.
Ongoing monitoring of the measures will take place over the two months while they are in effect.
Vincent Murray, Director of Economic Development with Limerick City and County Council said: "I’d like to thank everyone who took the time to send a submission to us about this plan. We listened carefully to everyone’s opinion and had many robust discussions on this issue."
“We are proceeding with the vast majority of the original plan and that is a very important point to make. This is about turning the challenge of Covid-19 into an opportunity for our city centre.”
“However we also had to listen and address the legitimate concerns expressed by many of the city’s traders and employers and we adapted a small number of our proposals as a result.”
“The implementation will now begin on a phased basis in the core city centre area.”
“The consultation process around this issue has been positive but there were some challenges, and we will continue to engage with city centre stakeholders as we develop Limerick city together.”