ABOUT 100 residents and business owners packed a specially convened meeting of Limerick City Council yesterday where a debate was held on proposals to block a new €5 million green route for Limerick city.
The Mayor of Limerick, Fine Gael’s Maria Byrne, who is among those opposed to the controversial scheme, called the special meeting where she tabled a motion asking the local authority to consider a “more appropriate route”.
But she faced opposition from a number of corners including from within her own party.
Limerick City Council plans to develop the new public transport corridor from the Crescent Shopping Centre in Dooradoyle into the city centre. Phase one of the project, costing €2.5 million, extends from the borough boundary on the Ballinacurra Road to the gates of Mount Saint Vincent Convent Chapel on O’Connell Avenue.
Phase two, costing €2.4 million, would see the route extended to Mallow Street in the city centre.
In a presentation yesterday Vincent Murray, senior engineer for roads and transportation on Limerick City Council, said the cost of the scheme would be €4.9 million.
He said the project would provide 25 direct construction jobs for 18 months over the two phases and 10 indirect jobs resulting in a wage contribution in excess of €2.5 million. Additionally, more than €1.5 million would be spent locally purchasing materials for the scheme, he added.
Mr Murray admitted the scheme had proved contentious with some residents but claimed a consultation process had enabled many concerns to be addressed.
Locals opposed to the new route claim they will have no place to park in front of their houses if bus lanes are put in place. Ms Byrne also highlighted the concerns of the 106 businesses located along the route and insisted their needs must be considered.
Limerick’s mayor said local residents had huge concerns about the effect of the route which would also have implications for parents dropping children to local schools.
In his address, Fine Gael councillor Kevin Kiely accused members of his own party of playing to “parish politics” and said they should examine their consciences.
According to Mr Kiely people from across Limerick depend on services at the Mid Western Regional Hospital in Dooradoyle, particularly since the closure of St John’s Hospital, and many of his constituents can’t afford cars. “A lot of this is about snobbery,” he claimed.
After a lengthy debate the meeting was adjourned for two weeks.