The latest stage of a scheme to provide public bikes in Dublin today saw planners give the green light for six advertising billboards.
The plan to put 450 bicycles on the city streets in exchange for outdoor advertising space has been backed by Dublin City Council.
Today JC Decaux, the company behind the scheme, was given permission for the new billboards despite the concern of some city centre businesses.
While the bike scheme has yet to be finalised, it is understood people will be able to pay a small rental fee for each bicycle.
The ad giant originally proposed funding for a Dublin cycling scheme similar to other European capitals in return for around 150 billboards, though this was later dropped to under 100.
The scheme attracted controversy and while Dublin City Council agreed to 72 sites, An Bord Pleanala today endorsed the erection of a further six billboards, about 2.5 metres high, but refused 18 after appeals from environmentalists.
A spokesman for environmental body An Taisce said: "The refusals announced today by An Bord Pleanala regarding Dublin City Council's proposed bikes for billboards scheme is a most serious damnation of the project.
"Most of the refusals were on grounds of public and pedestrian safety, as well as visual impact, which is a serious indictment of the competence of Dublin City Council.
"Given the units that have been refused, it is reasonable to suggest that the overwhelming majority of the billboards would be rejected if the Bord had the opportunity to evaluate them," he said.
Dublin City Council said the City Bike Scheme was being rolled out regardless of today's decision, as it had already approved permission for 72 billboards.
The council will receive no money from the advertising company but 38 advertising panel faces will be used by the authority for public information purposes.
Fifty bike stations are to be developed across the city centre area.
An Taisce said a similar scheme introduced in Paris, whereby 13 bikes are provided per billboard and an annual rent is paid to the city for each site, was vastly superior to the Dublin scheme.
It is urging Environment Minister John Gormley to intervene and halt the project.
PA