Further details are now available on the pedestrianisation of New Street. This measure is in line with the overall approach which I and my Green colleagues on Fingal County Council have been urging and which enjoys wide support from other parties also.
Continue readingCategory Archives: Transport / Taisteal
Road space reallocation in Howth / Malahide Area
The Operations Dept of the Council is continuing to work on the reallocation of road space and other measures to facilitate safe walking and cycling. We had an online meeting of the Area Cttee. last week and following input from constituents, I presented this list of options which is being considered. I would be grateful for any further feedback or suggestions.
The meeting received this update on the previous list of actions.
The other reports received by the meeting are also interesting – Covid 19 response and 2020 programme of works.
Submission to draft Airport Local Area Plan and Development Plan Variation
I made this submission to the public consultation on the draft Dublin Airport Local Area Plan and on the associated draft Variation to the County Development Plan. It refers back to my previous submission on the draft Local Area Plan and deals in particular with issues of climate change, noise, cycling access and water quality.
Direct Vision Standard for Heavy Goods Vehicles
The Council agreed today to my motion for the Council to work with the other Dublin local authorities to introduce a Direct Vision Standard similar to that being put in place in London. I put together a few slides with extracts from the Transport for London website to explain the standard.
Motion on Direct vision Standard and HGV Safety Permit system
Motion I’m submitting to a forthcoming Council meeting:
That in light of the risks to other road users posed by poor visibility from Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV), the Mayor and Chief Executive liaise with the other three local authorities in the Dublin Area with a view to agreeing to introduce a common Direct Vision Standard and HGV Safety Permit system similar to that being introduced in London.
Response to public consultation on Kinsealy Local Area Plan
Response to Bus Connects Consulation on Clongriffin, Swords, Blanchardstown and Lucan routes
Response to public consultation on Fingal Climate Action Plan
My brief response to the consultation on a draft Fingal Climate Action Plan focussed on the importance of a more detailed public participation process for taking climate action to achieve the 40% reduction in emissions which is a target we signed up to in the Covenant of Mayors . I advocate a major focus by Fingal County Council on actions to reduce transport emissions, as transport is the largest emission sector and one for which Fingal has significant influence.
The submission: Meeting the commitment to the Covenant of Mayors through a process of public participation
This will be coming back to the Council for final decision in either April or May.
South Fingal Transport Study
A South Fingal Transport Study has been carried out for the Council. (This is in fulfilment of an objective in the County Development Plan which specified the Study would include public consultation; unfortunately the public consultation hasn’t happened.)
The Study contains strong recommendations about prioritising walking, cycling and public transport in the area, and will be discussed at a Planning and Strategic Infrastructure Policy Committee meeting on Monday 28th.
Response to Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy consultation
As a member of the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly, I was involved in drafting the Green Party submission to the consultation on the draft Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy. The submission is quite brief and contains recommendations in the following areas:
- ensuring that effective sustainability indicators are used;
- halting and reversing biodiversity loss in line with the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, including large-scale rewetting of peatlands and restoration of natural ecosystems including wetlands and woodlands across the region, taking account of the major social and economic benefits which could result;
- ensuring the implementation of the Water Framework Directive through the planning system;
- transitioning to the circular economy;
- measuring the greenhouse gas emissions from the plan and ensuring it puts us on a path to a low -carbon economy
- investing in walking and cycling, recognising their public health and environmental benefits
- investing in public transport, in particular rail.