Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise Emer Higgins who met council officials, and has requested with some city traders a delay in the implementation of the plan until next year. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA Wire” by Minister of State for Enterprise Emer Higgins must not be allowed to delay or derail the Dublin City Centre Transport Plan, designed to tackle the city’s worsening traffic congestion, city councillors have said.
Mr Shakespeare said one group, the City Centre Traders Alliance, had commissioned an economic impact study on the plan and he would wait until he received this before “I make a decision on whether to change the implementation dates.” The plan’s first measures, “bus gates” on Bachelors Walk and Aston Quay restricting passage to public transport only, as well as a ban on private traffic turning left from Westland Row on to Pearse Street, were due to be implemented in early August.
Sinn Féin councillor Daithí Doolan said he was “quite surprised” Mr Shakespeare was considering a delay. “This development smacks of big business dictating to the city”.