Now that the public consultation on Lucan Village has closed, South Dublin County Council must seriously consider the feedback from residents and local businesses before progressing with any plans, a Lucan TD has said. Deputy Emer Higgins, TD for Dublin Mid-West has called on South Dublin County Council to listen to the views of the local community before finalising any plans for Lucan Village Green and Main Street Lucan,
Deputy Higgins said: “My understanding is that, in excess of 7,000 submissions were received by the council, so this is clearly a matter which people feel very strongly about. “I conducted an informal survey of hundreds of residents and businesses in Lucan in November and the removal of car parking spaces was definitely the main concern raised with me with 78% of respondents stating that parking in Lucan Village is already an issue.
“From that feedback it is clear that Lucan needs more car parking spaces not less so the proposal to remove 37 parking spaces and the existing accessible parking bays is of huge concern to me as both a local resident and a public representative,” added Deputy Higgins. “In keeping with the spirit of public consultation, I believe a compromise or alternative proposal will need to be found,” said Deputy Higgins.
“I want to see the Village Green developed into a more usable space and I want to see our footpaths upgraded and made more accessible, in particular for our wheelchair users and buggies, but this needs to be achieved without costing us the vibrancy of our village.
If the current plans were progressed as is, I would have particular concerns for the older population or those with mobility issues who rely on parking in the village to access the medical centre or the pharmacy or who rely on their car for grocery shopping and other errands. “I have made my own submission to the council and I hope they will listen to the concerns that I and other locals and business have raised to ensure that any changes to Lucan Village work for the whole community,” concluded Deputy Higgins.
