“Over the last 11 weeks more than 300,000 people have experienced the traffic-free streets of Capel and Parliament street.”
Dublin City Council has confirmed that this weekend will be the last for the pedestrianisation of Capel and Parliament Street.
Over the past 11 weeks the area has been transformed to accommodate outdoor dining at the restaurants on the two streets.
The programme was started by the Council as a two-week trial which has since been extended by six weeks twice, totaling twelve weeks as of this weekend. However, the Council has now revealed that this weekend will be the last scheduled weekend for the scheme.
“Over the last 11 weeks, more than 300,000 people have experienced the traffic-free streets of Capel Street and Parliament Street. This weekend is the final scheduled weekend so be sure to check it out,” they said on Monday alongside the hashtag ‘city recovery’.
Over the last 11 weeks, more than 300,000 people have experienced the traffic-free streets of Capel St & Parliament St. This weekend is the final scheduled weekend so be sure to check it out! #Dublin #CityRecovery #Pedestrianisation pic.twitter.com/SxRtCYXr2E
— Dublin City Council (@DubCityCouncil) August 23, 2021
The decision to remove the additional space created for outdoor dining has been criticised by business owners following the announcement who claim that they weren’t told about the changes and “found out” the news on Twitter.
This is absolutely enraging. We were told that the pedestrianisation was a 6 week trial. It was HUGELY successful. Then it was bizarrely announced the "trial" was being extended another 6 weeks. Then another 2
ALL HUGELY SUCCESSFUL
And now this?!@hazechu @RayMcAdam @JanetPHorner https://t.co/3gEpqYUHig— Dr Panti Bliss-Cabrera (@PantiBliss) August 23, 2021
Panti Bliss-Cabrera, owner of PantiBar on Capel Street said that the news was “absolutely enraging”.
And of course, no one from @DubCityCouncil has even *spoken* to the people on the street. We find out about it on Twitter!
An absolute shambles.— Dr Panti Bliss-Cabrera (@PantiBliss) August 23, 2021
Bliss-Cabrera added that the decision was “an absoloute shambles”, calling on Government to make the pedestrianisation a permanent fixture of the area.
