Andrews Calls for Bus Gate to be suspended and revisited after Christmas period

Dublin Deputy Chris Andrews TD, a member of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment has today (8th October) called for the Bus Gate at College Green to be suspended in the lead up to the busy Christmas period, and to be revisited in the New Year. Deputy Andrews was speaking following contact from a number of city centre businesses who say the Bus Gate is adversely affecting trade in the City Centre.

Speaking today Deputy Andrews said, "Businesses in the City Centre are struggling due to the fall off in trade and the Bus Gate seems to have compounded this problem. While there has been an improvement in the bus times and a fall off in City Centre traffic, the knock on effects for businesses has been negative. The Brown Thomas Car Park has outlined that there has been a 70pc drop in numbers using the car park in the evening, and facts like these cannot simply be disregarded."

"In the lead up to one of the busiest retail periods of the year it is imperative that consumers are encouraged into the city centre, and if the 6 month review of the scheme does not take place until January, it will be too late for the retailers who are hoping for the Christmas boost to keep them afloat."

"The City Manager has said that there is a perception issue, however perception is nine tenths of reality, and the reality is people think the city centre is closed off.When the economy was going well, testing this scheme would not have had the same impact, however the City Council needs to remember who pays the rates that keep Dublin afloat, and if businesses are empty traffic problems will be the least of the Council’s concerns," he concluded.