‘All hell to break loose’ over radical bus route changes
THE main thoroughfare in Ballyfermot is scheduled for radical changes to facilitate the new Liffey Valley to City Centre bus corridor schemem include redesigning the roundabout at Assumption Church into a junction, moving the holy statue in the roundabout to the church site, and a CPO of the plot of land outside the church grounds, for a cycle path.
Public anger has been building in the area since residents first discovered existing routes would be coming to an end in August.
The next phase of BusConnects will see changes to routes in Dublin, including that of the 79/79A and 40 routes in Ballyfermot – replaced by the number 60 and the G-Spine respectively.
The lesser frequency of new routes in lower Ballyfermot, and the likelihood of buses full when they arrive in Ballyfermot, are a major concern, particularly for elderly and vulnerable commuters.
A meeting was organised last week by local resident Robert Fitzpatrick, who was one of the first people to discover changes are coming
“My goal was simply to raise awareness. Four of our local councillors attended and they have now taken up the challenge. A meeting has been arranged for Thursday evening in the Civic Centre at 7.30 pm.”
The statue of Our Lady of Assumption has been on this landmark roundabout since the 1970s
Mr Fitzpatrick has “a feeling that all hell is about to break loose” following the NTA’s publication of the details this week.
“This will involve the use of CPOs and I suspect that this will not be well received,” he said.
“It will also involve the complete redesign of traffic layout between Grange Cross and the Assumption Church.
“From what I can gather looking at the plans, the stretch in question will become effectively a one-way system for cars, to get from Grange Cross to the Assumption Church will involve driving along Le Fanu Road to the top of Ballyfermot Hill, and then back along Kylemore Road, turning left onto Ballyfermot Road at the Assumption Church.”
A joint statement by TD Bríd Smith (PBP) and her party colleague Cllr Hazel De Nortúin, said they met with representatives of BusConnects on July 13 and “made it clear” to them that local people were “deeply unhappy with the removal of the 79 and the infrequency of the number 60 bus.”
They said officials committed to come back to them within ten days, having examined possibilities for improved frequencies and alternative routing away from “pinch points” at Claddagh Green.
“The officials emphasised that G1 and G2 routes will be run along the main road with a high frequency of one of each bus every 15 minutes. Both routes will also run 24 hours, with one of each bus every hour during the night,” they said.
“We welcome any improvement in public transport, but do not agree that any group should be left behind. Decies Road, Landen Road and the surrounding area have always had a bus service and many elderly and mobility-impaired people will be unable to get to the main road to connect with the new G bus route.”
Any complaints or observations can be sent to info@busconnects.ie
A public meeting to discuss this issue takes place in Ballyfermot Civic Centre on Thursday, July 21, at 7.30pm.
