Traders warn against city centre car ban

Banning cars in parts of Dublin city centre is premature and would push already reluctant shoppers to outlets on the fringes of the capital, business chiefs warned tonight.

Dublin Chamber of Commerce said the College Green bus gate should be delayed until work on Metro North begins next year.

The lobby group’s vice-president Peter Brennan claimed construction would cause massive disruption but extra bridges would be built across the Liffey to deal with traffic disruption.

Dublin City Council last night recommended cars be banned from College Green at peak times, claiming it was the best option for retailers.

“We don’t need to be sending out messages to reluctant shoppers that they can’t come into the city centre because route X, Y or Z is closed,” Mr Brennan said.

“They’ll get discouraged very quickly.

“We don’t want them to go to the suburbs.”

Dublin City Council’s Strategic Policy Committee agreed to recommend a bus gate at College Green on Monday to Friday from 7-10am and 4-7pm.

The Chamber of Commerce, AA and council management were being questioned by TDs and Senators at the Oireachtas Transport Committee over the plan.