Limerick Council accused of trampling on public opinion over €15m footbridge

Limerick City and County Council has been accused of trampling on public opinion with a plan to erect a €15m footbridge along the Shannon near the city centre.

The bridge will span 100m between Arthur’s Quay Park and Merchant’s Quay near the courthouse.

An action group calling itself ‘Footbridge Folly’ claims a decision has been taken by council management without consulting the elected council members.

Two former mayors of Limerick, councillor John Gilligan and councillor Joe Leddin, have said that the bridge will obscure historical buildings such as King John’s Castle and St Mary’s Cathedral.

Finance Minister Michael Noonan pledged €6m to build the project in his October 2014 budget. Of that, €3m was made available last year and the remaining €3m will be made available this year.

A case study by Limerick City and County Council said private donations will be needed and the council has pledged to make up the balance.

The Footbridge Folly opposition group claimed very little information had been put in the public domain on the project. However, a spokesperson for the council said a full report on it will be made available at the May meeting of the council.