LIMERICK City and County Council has sought a legal opinion on whether a public consultation process for the South Circular Road Active Travel Scheme should be undertaken, based on proposed changes to the project.
The original scheme was prepared under a Part 8 planning process to enable members of the public submit their views and suggestions on the scheme design.
Following the completion of the public consultation process, local councillors held several workshops to agree changes based on the public submissions prior to the scheme being voted on.
However, according to Labour Party councillor Joe Leddin, new additional material amendments were made that, in his view, substantially alter the scheme as originally presented to the public.
These amendments, Cllr Leddin claimed to the Limerick Post, were proposed by Fine Gael councillors and “voted through with no debate on the consequences or otherwise to residents negatively impacted”.
“The placement of permeability bollards to restrict traffic together with the reintroduction of two way traffic from Quin Street to Laurel Hill Avenue are, in my opinion, significant material alterations that the public must be consulted upon,” said Cllr Leddin, as he called for legal review of the scheme.
“I am now asking for a new Part 8 public consultation planning process to be undertaken to allow for complete transparency before any tendering process is initiated to construct the scheme.”
The Labour councillor said that “residents and business owners deserve to have their views heard on these ridiculous amendments that will, if introduced, create significant traffic issues along sections of the South Circular Road”.
Responding to Cllr Leddin’s comments, Fine Gael’s Cllr Dan McSweeney considered it “misleading” of his fellow City West representative to claim that there was no debate on the proposed amendments.
Cllr MsSweeney said the amendments “were thoroughly discussed in the briefings held in the days leading up to the crucial vote, and every elected member had ample opportunity to understand the solutions being considered in response to the public submissions”.
“Over two years ago, during the original Part 8 process, more than 1,000 submissions were received from people living along the proposed route. I stood with the many residents affected by the scheme along with my colleagues and did not turn my back on them — unlike others. Ultimately, the amendments received the backing of a majority in the chamber on the day of the vote.
“We are now at a critical juncture with this project. What we need is positive and constructive engagement between Limerick City and County Council, residents, and local stakeholders to resolve the concerns — not another legal opinion that offers no practical solutions,” Cllr McSweeney hit out.
Social Democrats councillor Elisa O’Donovan also told the Limerick Post that she is completely opposed to new proposals for active travel plans for the South Circular Road. She pleaded with the Council to speak with residents, schools, and businesses impacted by the scheme.
Cllr O’Donovan said that she believes that active travel schemes do have the potential for real and positive benefits for our community, but only when there is open, transparent, and respectful communication with the people who are impacted by the plans, adding that she does not think this has been done to date.
“This new scheme is not workable in my opinion, and I will be campaigning hard for further consultation with residents and an open and transparent planning process to rebuild trust,” Cllr O’Donovan commented.
Limerick City and County Council confirmed that a legal review is now underway.
