Calls to put some incentive into Clondalkin village area
By Maurice Garvey
A PROPOSAL to pedestrianise Clondalkin Village has failed to gain support from local business owners.
Independent Councillor Eoin Ó’Broin floated the idea at the Clondalkin area meeting last week.
Tower Road in Clondalkin village
“No disrespect to Main Street and Tower Road, but if we want more diversity of shops and people going into the village, we need more people walking in,” said Cllr Ó’Broin.
Ó’Broin said the model has been successful in “towns doing this all over the place like Roscrea” and Grafton Street.
Declan O’Gorman, owner of Boss Hoggs on Main Street, doesn’t think the idea is a “runner”.
“Look out there now, you could play five-a-side football on the road,” he said on Tuesday afternoon.
Mr O’Gorman, who walks to work, estimates the village receives visitors in a breakdown of approximately 60 per cent drivers and 40 per cent walkers.
Aspects he would like to see improvement on, are clearer signage at the main junctions at the Village Inn and the garda station, to help the flow of traffic at busy times.
Amil Ismail outside his shop
However, the Boss Hoggs boss sees merit in Cllr O’Broin’s proposal to make Orchard Road a two-way street.
Across the road, Locksmith Paul Nolan was more direct.
“Leave the village alone,” he said.
“We are not in the middle of town, it is a well-functioning village. My father John Nolan started this place 38 years ago and the people of Clondalkin have been very supportive.
“Parking can be an issue like any village, but they have changed it up over the years. What is wrong with a car?”
Amil Ismail, owner of Supersavers, has been in the village since 1990, but says the loss of some major outlets has hurt local businesses.
“There is nothing attractive to bring people into the village,” he said.
“The post office left, the building society, ESB, Permanent TSB and Bank of Ireland moved to Newlands Cross. They need to put some incentive into the village.”
Mr Ismail attributes some of his sales to traffic, noting how customers tell him they saw an item outside the shop while passing by on a bus.
Cllr Ó’Broin acknowledges nothing has been agreed with South Dublin County Council, but feels it could be piloted on a Sunday.
“Some people have suggested Sunday. It is done for the Clondalkin Festival and St Patrick’s Day.
I’m told the one-way systems are a bit outdated and not pedestrian friendly, cars going fairly fast.”
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