Businesses split over Limerick superblock plans as mayor urges support for trial

John Moran says temporary street changes will test new ideas despite concerns raised by some city centre businesses

Last week, details emerged of a survey conducted by the Limerick Chamber, which highlighted substantial concerns about the trial need to be taken seriously. Limerick mayor John Moran said 'there are certainly two views'.

The Limerick mayor has insisted there is “a huge appetite for change” after local businesses cast doubt on plans to trial city streets as pedestrian-friendly “superblocks” for summer activities.

Some city streets have been designed as “superblocks”, which means low-impact traffic measures are being introduced to prioritise local access while reducing through-traffic.

Last week, details emerged of a survey conducted by the Limerick Chamber, which highlighted substantial concerns about the trial plans.

While 45% of businesses surveyed were in favour of the ‘superblock’ trial, some 12% of respondents said changes were required to the plans. Nearly a third of business respondents expect a negative impact when it comes to the trial, while a quarter objected overall.

Limerick mayor John Moran said he attended a meeting at the chamber and that “there are certainly two views”.

“As if often the case with change, there are those who are for it, there are those who are against it. The view that everyone was against is clearly not true, and indeed wasn't true at the meeting,” Mr Moran told the Irish Examiner.

“I think there's a huge appetite for change. There is an understanding that these are trials, we're not shutting the Crescent down for the next four years, although there are reasons why we might think that would be a good idea in the future.” 

To get to the point where an area like the Crescent would be shut “over a full year”, Mr Moran said significant changes would be required in other surrounding streets.

“What I have clearly heard is let’s just see if this works, but we need to make sure to invest in it and make it possible that people understand. Summer in the city is about many things around August,” he added. 

"But it's really a way of having a conversation about how our city should work in the future.

“In cities across the world, particularly in Europe, the idea is that cities that are either on rivers or inland provide amenities for people who live in that city, who maybe don't have the income levels to be able to go away on holidays by plane, or indeed even here go to Kilkee."

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Mr Moran claimed an increasing number of people "understand the summer initiative is more about socialising — and not only about traffic or economics".

Despite the support shown by some business owners, Limerick Chamber CEO Donnacha Hurley warned this should not be considered as unconditional.

Mr Hurley said: “In several cases, high levels of neutrality suggest that businesses are reserving judgement until they see greater detail on what will actually be delivered."

For the August proposals to work, Mr Hurley added the council will need to provide a “well-executed plan”.