Outdoor dining has received a boost as work gets underway on four, key streets in the city centre, DCC confirms. Restaurants and bars are permitted to resume outdoor service from June 7th and measures have been put in place to facilitate.
Work is underway as DCC seek to increase the amount of space currently available on Dublin’s city streets. From Monday the 24th of May, four key streets will either be traffic-free or, sections of the streets traffic-free at certain times.
The streets reported to be involved in DCC’s plans are, Anne Street South from the junction of Dawson Street, South William Street from Exchequer Street to the Brown Thomas carpark exit, Drury Street from just after its junction with Fade Street to the Drury Street underground carpark, and Dame Court from Exchequer Street.
As part of the wider programme, led by the Office of City Recovery, work began this week and will continue for several weeks. The Office decided to go through with their plans following last year’s successful, six-weekend pedestrianisation trials in July and August.
In an online survey on the trials, conducted by DCC, a landslide 95% of the 1,588 responses voted in favour of making the decision permanent. Following another consultation of the plans last November, a further 97% voted in favour of the plan, yet again.
Plans to introduce the new measures in January were put on hold, due to the country going into Level 5 lockdown. However, as restrictions begin to ease and construction activity resumes, DCC can now carry out its plans for pedestrianisation. The Council has also said it is working to increase pedestrian and dining space in other parts of the city and will issue further information in due course.
Meanwhile, Green Party leader, Eamon Ryan has urged people to eat and drink outdoors this Summer, without the fear of being collared by Gardaí. Mr Ryan has also announced Temple Bar will be allocated 3,000 outdoor seats, which might give further indication into DCC’s overall plan for the city’s streets.
