PHOTOS: Limerick called to have its say on future vision for city

LIMERICK Council has launched a public consultation on the draft Limerick City Centre Transport Plan and proposed Limerick City Centre Public Realm Strategy.

LIMERICK Council has launched a public consultation on the draft Limerick City Centre Transport Plan and proposed Limerick City Centre Public Realm Strategy, inviting residents, businesses, community groups, and stakeholders to help shape the future of the city centre.

Together, the draft Limerick City Centre Transport Plan and the proposed Limerick City Centre Public Realm Strategy set out a coordinated vision for a more accessible, attractive, and sustainable city centre to deliver Mayor John Moran’s vision for the city, as outlined in his More for Limerick programme.

The proposals aim to improve streets, public spaces, and transport connections, supporting a vibrant city centre that is easier to move around, live in, work in and visit.

The draft Transport Plan identifies and prioritises changes to transport arrangements within the city centre, while the proposed Public Realm Strategy sets out a vision and design approach for enhancing streets, public spaces, and the overall urban environment.

Mayor John Moran hailed the launch of the public consultation process a “really big day for Limerick”, after years of work from the Council’s different divisions. He also thanked the National Transport Authority (NTA) for their support.

“We have been putting new ideas at them, some of them came through in my own election campaign where the public wanted us to relook at whether we could use superblocks and how we would revisit O’Connell Street. I think there was a feeling that some of the proposals from 10 years ago were no longer suitable for Limerick 2026 and I want to thank the NTA for being open to having those conversations,” Mayor Moran commented.

“Hopefully the answers we now have will sit better with people, and maybe they won’t, but we want to hear that too. I say that to the people of Limerick, but frankly, I say that to colleagues within Limerick City and County Council and with Limerick Twenty Thirty and others, because everyone’s a stakeholder in this.”

The Limerick Post this week asked local councillors for their views on the proposed plans, which could see a return of two-way traffic on Henry Street, Mallow Street, and William Street, as well as a two-way bus corridor on O’Connell Street, between Cecil Street and Arthur’s Quay.

Green Party councillor Seán Hartigan welcomed the publications and encouraged residents, businesses, and community groups to take the opportunity to engage with the consultation process, which is currently ongoing and open until October 12.

“Together, these proposals set out a long-term vision for a city centre that is more attractive, accessible and people-focused,” the City East representative said.

“Limerick is a growing city, and if we are to accommodate that growth successfully, we need to address congestion, improve air quality, and provide people with realistic alternatives to car dependency. A city centre where more journeys can be made on foot, by bicycle, or by public transport is not only better for the environment, it is also healthier, safer, and more pleasant for residents, workers and visitors.”

Cllr Hartigan believes that the Public Realm Strategy has the potential to transform our streets and public spaces, creating a city centre that is more welcoming, more vibrant, and more attractive for shopping, recreation, and investment. High-quality public spaces, he suggests, are increasingly recognised as an important factor in supporting economic activity and making cities places where people want to spend time, do business and live.

“At the same time, it is important that the proposals are carefully assessed to ensure they work for everyone. The concerns of residents, local businesses, older people, and people with disabilities must be fully considered, particularly in relation to accessibility, parking, and traffic management. The objective should be to create a city that is easier to move around, less congested, cleaner and more liveable, while maintaining a strong and thriving city centre economy.

“These consultations offer an opportunity to shape the future of Limerick for decades to come,” Hartigan added.

However, not everyone is as enthused about these once-in-a-generation blueprints.

Fianna Fáil councillor Catherine Slattery raised some concerns about what is being proposed in the plans.

“From my reading of the draft transport plan, the key ambition is to reduce car dependency and prioritise walking, cycling, and public transport. Embracing the River Shannon is also mentioned as a space for enhanced public access, which I am very much in favour of,” Cllr Slattery revealed.

She continued: “What I am not in favour of is the pedestrianisation of certain streets. We already have Cruises Street, Bedford Row, Thomas Street, which are not being used to their potential. Why pedestrianise more streets when the ones already pedestrianised are not being used?

“Look at Bedford Row and Cruises Street — they are dead and businesses are closing. Limerick City needs a boost and not the closing down of streets. 20 per cent of commercial buildings lie idle while 77 per cent of residential properties are empty.”

According to Cllr Slattery, Mayor John Moran should concentrate on getting business and people back into the city. She took the view that the public need to be made aware that bus routes on this draft plan will change, and if they are not happy with these changes, they need to make submissions to the plans.

“More on-street parking will be removed in this draft plan. From my reading of the draft transport plan, the proposed redesign is to reduce traffic through the city centre. Instead of traffic going all the way up O’Connell Street, it will now go down Shannon Street and up Henry Street. Traffic will now bypass the Crescent and that area will be pedestrianised. In my view, this is John Moran’s vision of Limerick, not the people of Limerick’s vision,” she claimed.

Fine Gael councillor Daniel Butler reminded the people of Limerick that public consultations are ongoing on the new transport plan and encouraged as many people as possible to make a submission or engage with their local councillor.

Cllr Butler said he does not want a “skewed process’ that only engages those with a vested interest with the broader commuter population not engaging.

“Get this right, Limerick flourishes, get it wrong, and we may never recover from the mistakes,” he warned.

Both consultations, together with the relevant environmental assessments and supporting documentation, are available for public inspection online through the Council’s consultation portal at mypoint.limerick.ie.

They are also available at Limerick City and County Council Offices in Merchant’s Quay and Dooradoyle Road as well as at Barrow House Library, Dooradoyle Library, and Watch House Cross Library during normal opening hours.

The Council will host a second drop-in information session where members of the public can learn more about the proposals and discuss them directly with project staff on Thursday September 10 from 12 to 7pm at the UL City Centre Campus on Sarsfield Street.

The public consultation process is open to submissions or observations up to 5pm on October 12 next.