Road widths and cycle lane impact parking issues close to The Edge

RESIDENTS around Bolbrook Close in Tallaght have “suffered disproportionately” since road widths in the area were reduced for a cycle lane and have been impacted by parking issues linked to the Edge.

The topic was raised by Cllr Kieran Mahon (Sol) at a Tallaght Area Committee meeting last week, where he referred to parking issues around the Edge and across Avonbeg and Bolbrook.

He noted that there are 46 car parking spaces internally for the Edge, and there is parallel parking for between 10 and 15 cars on the side of an old footpath at the Edge.

“That space needs to be used more efficiently, and could be easily done by removing the unnecessary footpaths and providing either parallel parking on two sides or else providing designated parking on one side – either way, you’d increase capacity,” said Cllr Mahon.

“To me, this is very straightforward. We don’t actually need to make a mountain out of a molehill here.

“It’s just about regularising the existing space in a better and more efficient way.”

Cllr Mahon also discussed issues with parking and road usage around Bolbrook Close negatively affecting local residents since the road was reduced for a cycle lane.

“Avonbeg, and particularly around Bolbrook Close, residents in the immediate area have suffered disproportionately because of the narrowing of the road for Active Travel,” he said.

“[Active Travel], which is generally a very positive development in the area and, to the best of my knowledge, generally very welcome, and the Edge – all that stuff combined…there’s been excessive parking around Bolbrook Close.

“Now, what it’s resulting in is a narrowed road, not necessarily room to pull in to allow other cars to pass parked cars, it just causes a bit of congestion.”

He added that the green in Bolbrook Close is also being affected by the issue and is impacting residents’ use of the green space.

“For the people who live on Bolbrook Close, the small green there that the kids use to play football and do what kids do, cars are driving across that green, people are using it as an access point,” explained Cllr Mahon, who lives in the area.

“So, it’s dangerous, and people who live on Bolbrook Close in particular can’t get in and out of the estate.

“At very, very busy events in the Edge, that pushes right back up the road, nearly as far as Avonbeg, and it can be really, really intrusive.

“But generally, it’s the people at Bolbrook Close who are most negatively impacted, I would say, and who need the most immediate resolution.”

A spokesperson for South Dublin County Council stated that Edge is leased by the council to a management company which is responsible for the organisation and operation of it.

“As it currently stands, SDCC do not have the right to enter that facility and make any alterations to the parking arrangements,” they said.

“Further detailed discussions with our SDCC Economic Development section is required to examine this issue.

“The council is still examining the feasibility of providing additional car parking on the approach road to the Edge.

“When we have concluded this process, we will inform the elected members by group email of our decision.”