There is growing concern among Dublin businesses at plans to shut off the city centre for the Tour de France en Irlande next month with "zero access" for traders.
The Dublin Chamber of Commerce said the "absolute nature of the road closures is unworkable and unacceptable". Its chief executive, Mr Noel Carroll, said the Tour, worth an estimated £20 million to the city, should inflict "the least damage on the commercial interests directly affected".
The Garda Siochana has issued businesses in the capital with notices detailing the road closures, which will facilitate the start of the Tour on July 11th.
O'Connell Street, Westmoreland Street, D'Olier Street, College Green and adjacent areas will be closed to vehicles from midnight on Friday, July 10th, to noon on Sunday, July 12th.
On Saturday, July 11th, between 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., no vehicles will be allowed within the Prologue route, which covers O'Connell Street, College Green, Nassau Street, Merrion Square, Fitzwilliam Square, Leeson Street, St Stephen's Green, Cuffe Street, Kevin Street, Patrick Street, Nicholas Street and Ormond Quay.
A Garda spokesman confirmed last night there would be "zero access in or out of the city centre to vehicles on Saturday".
Mr Carroll called for clarification of a number of issues. "What are the public transport arrangements? What are the emergency arrangements? What are the contingency plans if the gardai go `sick'? What are the diversionary plans for traffic at the city suburbs? What are the plans for access accreditation for `official' vehicles within the area covered by the road closures?"
He said the closure of O'Connell Street, in particular, was "excessive in scale and duration", adding that some businesses such as Clerys, Independent Newspapers and An Post would be seriously impeded from doing their normal business.
He said there was also a need to clarify what powers had been given to the Tour organisers in their contract signed with the Minister for Tourism and Sport, Dr McDaid. "We want to know who is calling the shots. Is it the Garda, the Corporation or the Tour de France organisers?"
