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TWO PROTESTS IN west Dublin are expected to cause traffic disruption tomorrow on what is likely to be a busy shopping day in the run-up to Christmas.
Separate demonstrations will be held in Blanchardstown and Palmerstown against parking charges and bus route changes, respectively.
Local residents will stage a blockade of Blanchardstown Shopping Centre at 1pm tomorrow afternoon in protest against the introduction of parking charges at the centre.
Last month, it was reported that Fingal County Council has granted planning permission to the operator of Blanchardstown Centre, Blanche Retail Nominee Ltd, for a new ‘Mobility Enhancement Project’ which includes a new paid parking regime.
The Council received a total of six submissions on the planning application. Those who have lodged objections are now able to appeal the decision to An Coimisiún Pleanála.
Residents have lodged an appeal over the decision, while People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger, who submitted a joint objection against the plans with Councillor John Burtchaell and Councillor Helen Redwood, has said she will also appeal the decision.
She said that it is “absolutely disgraceful” that the charges are being introduced, under the guise of “being sustainable”, to “fleece” people, including the workers within the centre.
A spokesperson for Blanchardstown Centre previously said the owners are committed to “significantly upgrading” customer experience, with up to €60m in investment at the centre, some of which includes an upgrade of car parking and transport facilities.
“We are carefully considering the impact on vulnerable customers, charity groups, and regular visitors, as well as loyalty programmes and discounts to encourage repeat visits. Further details on pricing will be shared in due course,” the spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, resident groups from Chapelizod, Islandbridge and Palmerstown are set to block the Chapelizod bypass (R148) from 11am tomorrow morning for at least an hour over the new 80 bus route.
They say that queues will likely spill back onto the M50 junction and cause knock-on delays across the western approaches to Dublin.
The 80 – which runs from Liffey Valley to Palmerstown Park, diverting from the city centre at Smithfield – replaced the 26 route – which ran from Liffey Valley to Merrion Square – in October as part of Phase 7 of BusConnects.
Residents say the National Transport Authority failed to meet with them to discuss the change, which they say is not reliable and is negatively impacting the community.
“At rush hour this week, on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, no buses ran from the city centre to Chapelizod between 4.45pm-6pm, again leaving residents completely stranded,” the group said.
“People are reporting imminent job losses, fears for the safety of their relatives and friends with additional needs, and elderly members of the community are no longer able to carry out basic daily tasks like shopping or socialising.”
The Chapelizod bypass, which runs above the outskirts of Chapelizod, carries the C-Spine bus routes. But the residents group says it is inaccessible to pedestrians, meaning they cannot access them.
“The NTA have not listened to the concerns of residents. Our elderly residents, those with reduced mobility, those with young children, those with caring duties. All of them are being ignored,” Chapelizod resident Nick Stefanovic said.
“A petition signed by over 1000 residents has been ignored. A 500-strong protest attended by TDs and councillors was not heeded. Our TDs and councillors are also being ignored. We don’t have any other way of making our voices heard.”
The Departments of Transport and the National Transport Authority have been contacted for comment.
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