Dublin retailers fear car restrictions will hurt business

Retail spending in Dublin’s city centre could collapse if planned new traffic restrictions are introduced. The Irish Parking Association has warned that city centre businesses face a 24% drop in revenue, if plans to ban traffic from key routes go ahead.

The IPA, which represents car-parking companies, has joined growing opposition to radical plans by Dublin City Council and the National Transport Authority to transform transport in the capital.

It claimed the proposals will drive business away from shopping districts in the city centre to suburban centres such as Dundrum, Blanchardstown, Liffey Valley, and Swords.

Other business representative groups, including Dublin Town and the Dublin City Business Association, have also criticised the plan, which would ban or restrict private cars from the College Green area and parts of the Quays.

They claim the measures would limit access to car parks and hotels in the city centre, near the prime shopping areas of Grafton St and Henry St.

They warn that the city centre is already facing traffic chaos, due to works on the extension of the Luas green line, from St Stephen’s Green to Broombridge, via O’Connell St.

A study commissioned by the IPA found that the attractiveness of Dublin City centre to car owners and visitors would be significantly reduced if the controversial traffic restrictions are given a green light.

More than two fifths of expenditure in retail outlets in the city centre is accounted for by car users. Motorists and their passengers spend more than shoppers travelling into the city centre via other modes of transport.

Three out of five motorists who use city centre car parks say they would not park there if access was restricted.

IPA president Keith Gavin said: “It is obvious, from the findings of our survey, that Dublin City Council and the NTA have not taken full account of the potential for economic damage, which their plans could mean for Dublin City centre. Retail, tourism, hospitality and car-park jobs in the city centre have to be given greater consideration in any planned transport changes.”

Mr Gavin said the IPA did not accept that making car access to the city centre more difficult would persuade motorists to switch to other modes of transport.

“People who want to shop by car, but find themselves restricted in Dublin City centre, will travel to other destinations, like the M50 shopping centres, or they will shop online, taking money out of the city centre and the Irish economy,” he said.

Mr Gavin said Ireland’s busiest shopping area had been affected by the closure of Clerys and the placement of Mothercare and Best Menswear in examinership.He accused the Dublin City Centre Transport Study, which proposes a €150m investment on greater facilities for walking, cycling and public transport, of bias against cars.