FAMILIES along the South Circular Road Active Travel Scheme route in Limerick City feel they are being “betrayed and ignored” by the Council.
So said Social Democrats councillor Elisa O’Donovan at November’s full meeting of Limerick City and County Council (LCCC) as she pleaded with Mayor John Moran to use his influence to tease out ongoing issues.
The City West representative wanted consideration to be given to residential parking solutions in accordance with traffic management plans, as passed by Council members.
“‘Our community is being ignored’. ‘Betrayed by those who should protect community. Not against cycling, against being ignored’. ‘You are now entering unliveable Limerick’. These are just some of the placards that have been placed along the South Circular Road,” Cllr O’Donovan said.
The Social Democrat also pointed out that when councillors supported this active travel scheme in February 2023, she proposed an amendment looking for solutions to residential parking and shared surface at areas of school drop off.
Cllr O’Donovan reminded the executive that commitments were made at the time to workshop this section of the scheme to councillors and residents.
“This hasn’t happened, and for the last 10 months, my community has been left divided by this scheme. We have a situation where people who have invested in the city centre have placards saying you are entering unlivable Limerick. We have people who have bought homes, young families, retired people, saying that they are being betrayed and ignored by the Council,” she explained.
Mayor Moran said that the Council is conscious that its Traffic Management Plans must effectively balance the needs of all the community. He told Cllr O’Donovan that he has been approached by residents about ongoing concerns and confirmed the Active Travel team will communicate further with them as the project evolves.
“If we need the city to work, it only works best for people actually living in the city centre, and we need to be conscious of getting that balance right,” he added.
– Local Democracy Reporting Scheme