There has been a call for a full review of street and road closures during the peak summer months in Killarney, particularly given the traffic congestion in the town.
Cllr Martin Grady said the closures often prove unnecessary and he pointed, in particular, to the decision to close Main Street on weekends for the month of August.
“I have not met one person who agrees with it,” he said
“It serves no purpose. There is no added street furniture put out and there is no entertainment on the street,” Cllr Grady remarked.
“Close it in the evenings if you wish but leave it open during business hours,” he added.
Council officials said the policy position with regard to traffic management plans concerning works or events is to avoid roads closures and to consider any potential road closure as a matter of last resort.
“Where a road closure is unavoidable, Kerry County Council operates a process of public notification and communication which is published in print, through digital media, as well as online on the council’s website,” the local authority said.
“The Notice of Intention informs the public and stakeholders of the proposal and invites submissions from interested third parties which are taken into consideration before any decision is taken to close a road.
“Once a decision is taken to close a road, this decision also undergoes a process of public notification and communication and is circulated directly to stakeholders”.
Cllr Grady also asked for footpaths that are not utilised for outdoor dining to be returned to car parking spaces.
The council said licences were issued where appropriate and all outdoor dining area allocations in the town are reviewed continuously.
Where footpath build-outs are not being used they return to public realm and in the context of the ongoing detailed design stage of the Killarney Town URDF Town Centre and Street Upgrade Project.
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