Dublin to provide more space for street furniture

To enable retail and hospitality businesses in the capital return to work Dublin City Council has recognised the need to create more space in the city for Social Distancing. 

 The City Council now believes that such a re-allocation of road space may be needed in a number of different areas to meet the new requirements to maintain Social Distancing and to enable the safe movement of people within the city or to accommodate retailers where queuing occurs outside their shop.

But the Council has also stated that, “Our priority is to implement measures that support people to walk, cycle and use public transport.”

Nevertheless, it is open to considering requests from the hospitality sector for more outside space where there’s adequate existing space or where additional space can be provided subject to the suitability of the location. Of necessity, these will be considered on a street-by-street basis as requests are made, stated the Council.

The need for flexibility including permitting changes to how retailers and businesses now must operate their deliveries with respect to Covid-19 precautions is also being taken into account.

In some locations, on-street car parking and loading bays may have to be removed or relocated to allow for greater provision for pedestrians etc.

“Where possible, alternative delivery locations will be provided,” stated the Council, “The option of identifying specific off-peak delivery times for goods deliveries is also to be considered. We may therefore need to look at different solutions and develop new ways to facilitate deliveries for retailers and businesses across the city.

“Dublin City Council and the National Transport Authority are acutely aware of the needs of the city’s retailers, cafés, restaurants and bars etc,” continued a DCC statement, “The overall aim of the proposed mobility measures is to enable the city to return to work, including enabling retail and leisure activities to restart and businesses to re-open, all in line with Government guidelines.”

Publicans and retailers with requests relating to deliveries or new outdoor seating can e-mail covidmobility@dublincity.ie or they can download a Covid Mobility Measure Request Form.