Residents feel they are losing village space
By Aideen O’Flaherty
TALLAGHT village residents are concerned that the BusConnects plans for Main Street and the Old Greenhills Road will lead to “more congestion and less space in our village”.
The BusConnects programme involves the implementation of continuous bus lanes along 16 key radial bus corridors around Dublin, with each corridor being part of a designated ‘spine’ or orbital route through the city.
Deirdre Peggs and Joe Peggs in Tallaght Village on Wednesday morning
The proposed Greenhills to city centre route runs through Main Street, and includes plans to restrict cars turning into the village from the Old Blessington Road and Main Street.
It is proposed that a new junction with signal-controlled priority will be created on the Old Greenhills Road, at location of the existing cul-de-sac beside The Priory, to facilitate bus-only turn movements to the Greenhills Road.
The BusConnects programme also intends to provide a bus lane, cycle lane, and traffic lane in both directions between the Old Greenhills Road and the junction with Mayberry Road.
However, the plans will also lead to the loss of on-street parking on Main Street in the village, and residents are concerned about the proposed removal of a new granite silver plaza and silver birch trees, at the cul-de-sac on the Old Greenhills Road, to facilitate BusConnects.
Deirdre Peggs, a lifelong resident of Tallaght Village, told The Echo: “We feel that we’ll be losing whatever space we have in the village – whatever space we have is gone with this proposal.
“It’s just going to lead to more congestion and less space in our village area.
“The village is a historic area, so they should be taking more heed of that. We have to protect it.”
Ms Peggs added: “Access to The Priory is retained under this proposal, but no accommodation appears to be given to the residents who need access to safe, on-street parking, and a valued civic community amenity to be able to meet outdoors.”
The residents have suggested a number of alternative sites for the BusConnects plans, such as installing the bus lane on the Airton Road instead of on Main Street, so commuters will be within walking distance of Tallaght Village.
They also suggested the use of a compulsory purchase order for the land owned by Sirio Homes on Main Street, to create a bus only lane at the junction with the new Greenhills Road.
Following on from a public consultation process that ended on December 12, the National Transport Authority are expected to lodge a formal application for the BusConnects plans with An Bord Pleanála this year.
A spokesperson for National Transport Agency told The Echo: “Continuing to bring the buses into Tallaght Village is important to maintain access to the many businesses located in the village for those that use the bus.
“Using Old Greenhills Road allows the bus to bypass the congested traffic signals at Greenhills Road providing a significant journey time advantage for the bus passing through the village.
“BusConnects will provide improved public transport accessibility to The Square and Tallaght village through the provision of higher frequency and more reliable bus routing.
“It will also provide significantly enhanced bus and cycle linkages from Tallaght to the education, employment and healthcare facilities that the various BusConnects corridors will link to, significantly enhancing accessibility for the residents of Tallaght.”
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