‘This is the sort of skullduggery that gives politicians a bad name’
A SPAT has emerged between two councillors over the controversial proposal to reduce traffic in Clondalkin Village.
The proposal to ban private vehicles in the village was removed from the Clondalkin Local Area Plan (LAP) last week following an amendment by Cllr Francis Timmons (Ind) to remove the traffic aspect of the LAP.
Cllr Trevor Gilligan (FF) believes it a
“complete 180 degree u turn” by Cllr Timmons, citing a motion by the latter in the 2021 Development Plan, which called for ‘private paid parking to be relocated out of Clondalkin village and the area pedestrianised.’
“What seems to have transpired, is that the proposals to block off traffic from Clondalkin Village, was initiated by Timmons’ motion,” said Gilligan, whose own motion to scrap the Clondalkin LAP entirely, failed to receive support from fellow councillors at the recent area meeting.
“It would be wise for Cllr Timmons to explain why he proposed the motion to restrict vehicle movement around the village. Why does he want the removal of all private car parks?
“This would include Tesco car park, the car park behind the steering wheel, Quinlan’s car park, Laurels car park, Mill Centre car park? It beggars belief, that one would propose the removal of such car parks. It is hypocritical that he denied this until he was shown the proof of his own motion.
“The people of Clondalkin deserve a full explanation for this complete 180 degree u turn. This is the issue residents have with such proposals, they don’t know who is requesting them, this is the sort of skullduggery that gives politicians a bad name,” said Cllr Gilligan.
Responding, Cllr Timmons said: “Firstly, the previous motion I put down three years ago was on behalf of Clondalkin Tidy Towns, the Joe Williams Archive and the Clondalkin Vision Group, and the council didn’t accept the wording. As with many motions it was put down as ideas and for discussion. The main concern was traffic passing the 1,000 year old Round Tower and an ACA (Architectural conservation area).
“It was not a motion like the recent traffic proposal which would close all roads in the village to full car access, the section on car parking was to look at the possibility of a market place in the village and certainly wasn’t intended that all car parking would be removed.
“Cllr Gilligan’s attempt to use a motion that wasn’t accepted as worded shows the underhandedness and skullduggery by Cllr Gilligan. To try and tarnish my reputation by taking a motion from three years ago out of context says more about Cllr Gilligan than me,” said Cllr Timmons.
Gilligan says SDCC have spent €400K for consultants alone for the plan, of which he has yet to see ‘positive’ aspects that cannot be put through separate area committee meetings.
Cllr Timmons said he is focused on running for the Local Election “on my proven track record of hard work and dedication to improving Clondalkin and not on scaremongering and soundbites.’’
