Residents’ concerns over trucks delivering to shop

SPRINGFIELD residents have been “bullied into” accepting the use of articulated trucks for deliveries to the local Centra shop.

A local resident who asked to remain anonymous, and said they were speaking on behalf of Alderwood residents, said there had previously been an agreement with Musgraves.

This agreement saw smaller rigid-style trucks being used to carry out deliveries, however, the resident said Musgraves went back on this last December and articulated lorries were used.

Points of concerns from local residents include the noise of the articulated lorries when carrying out deliveries early in the morning and late at night.

The resident also claimed that the manner in which the lorries are parked while carrying out deliveries has damaged the tactile surface at a pedestrian crossing adjacent to the shop.

“The issue is not with deliveries, it is very much with the method Musgraves are deploying here,” the resident told The Echo.

“Following contact made with Musgraves last year about the use of these vehicles, we had agreement with their planning department about the use of these vehicles.

“They agreed they would only use Rigid type vehicles of approx. 20+ feet.

“This was acceptable to all residents and all was good until December 2023 when at Christmas Musgraves decided to backtrack on this agreement and for the full use of the Articulated vehicles going forward.

“Despite our concerns, Musgraves failed to consult with local residents and issued a safety audit stating that these vehicles are safe to use.

“However, as we demonstrated to SDCC, these vehicles can only fit in to the store car park by driving and parking over the pedestrian area and in particular the tactile paving that is now so badly damaged it is now a trip hazard for those pedestrians with visual impairments.”

The issue was raised by Cllr Vanessa Mulhall (GP) at a Tallaght Area Committee meeting earlier this month.

“The residents have no problem with them getting deliveries, we all know they need the deliveries,” she said.

“But these trucks are starting to come into the area from 6.30 in the morning and it’s causing a huge amount of disturbance for the local community.

“I’ve seen some videos of the trucks trying to get around the roundabout and come in, and there’s been a lot of damage done to the area.

“That tactile for visually impaired people, that’s been kind of broken in a way by the trucks, and there are different other bits of street furniture that have been damaged.”

In response to Cllr Mulhall’s motion, a spokesperson for South Dublin County Council said no traffic laws were being broken and that HGVs were no more dangerous than other vehicles.

“There are no weight restriction bylaws in place at this location. Therefore, the business owners are not breaking any traffic law to my knowledge,” stated the council.

“It is not true that articulated trucks are more dangerous than other vehicles on the road.

“The drivers of such vehicles are trained to appropriate standards and are licensed to safely drive goods vehicles on the public road.

“There is no evidence that HGVs cause more road traffic accidents than other vehicles.”

The issue continues on for the residents of Alderwood, who recently carried out a door-to-door petition and are calling on Musgraves to revert back to using smaller vehicles for deliveries.

“We have over the past number of months attempted to get Musgraves to respond to our concerns but all efforts have been ignored by them,” said the anonymous resident, “including the approaches by SDCC councillors and managers.

“Therefore, we firmly believe that Musgraves are bullying the residents into accepting these vehicles.

“When one considers that Musgraves are the largest retail delivery company in Ireland with over 200 vehicles of which 60+ are rigid type vehicles, then we must ask why force these unwarranted vehicles down residents’ throats and insist that these vehicles are the only way forward.

“Surely Musgraves could demonstrate a little compassion and community spirit and move to take these vehicles out of our area and return to the agreed delivery method of rigid only?”

The Echo contacted a spokesperson for Centra for comment, but a response wasn’t received at the time of print.