‘Brown Thomas has got it wrong; the Dublin City Centre Transport Plan is not a threat for businesses’

The famous Grafton Street store is opposing the Dublin City Transport Plan which will see cars banned from many areas in the city – with the space given to pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport instead.

The transport plan due to come into effect in August includes removing traffic from the College Green area and pedestrianising Parliament Street.

Sections of quays on both sides of the river will be given to cyclists, pedestrians, and public transport. There’ll also be new civic plazas at the Custom House and Lincoln Place.

Luke Preston-Marshall, who is part of the Dublin Commuter Coalition, says that the new plan would benefit Brown Thomas.

“I think Brown Thomas have got it wrong, they see this plan as a threat, but I don’t think it’s a threat to business at all,” he told the Irish Independent.

“I think it’s going to be a good thing for Dubliners, city centre businesses and commuters. We think the plan is really important for improving the flow of people through the city and improving the quality of life, air quality and so on.

“We think it’s important for businesses in the city to allow more people to come in and visit, rather than just coming in and passing through in their cars.”

Jason Cullen, chair of the Dublin Commuter Coalition, believes that Dubliners are fed up waiting in traffic and the plan to remove cars needs to happen as soon as possible.

“It just takes one individual long enough sitting on a bus or a train or Luas in Dublin to get frustrated enough to be compassionate about public transport.

“Dubliners waste so many hours on public transport, it’s a massive amount of loss to each individual that’s time away from their families, time away from their hobbies.

“They’re just on a bus waiting for cars to get out of the way that shouldn’t be there in the first place. BusConnects cannot thrive the way it’s supposed to without this plan in place.

“Brown Thomas is one of the most prominent members of the Dublin City Centre Traders Alliance. They have very prominently been trying to stop or stall the Dublin City Centre Transport Plan.

“We’re calling on them to get out of the way and let Dublin move. It’s not just important for public transport, it’s important for the environment, the health of the people in Dublin, for them to move within their city freely.

“This shop and those within the Traders Alliance are reliant on the people of Dublin to come in and spend their money, if they keep stalling this, there will be no business for them. This is one of the worst congested cities in the world.”

Newly elected Green Party Councillor Feljin Jose added: “I think it’s important for businesses to read the room and understand what people want. People are very annoyed and frustrated; they’ll end up taking their business somewhere else.

“When I was canvassing, better public transport came up at every one in two doors along with safer streets and less traffic.

“There was a public consultation, the councillors voted in favour of it twice, we’re all in favour and yet we’re being held back from the few, very big businesses.”

His DCC Green Party colleague is also frustrated about the plan being halted.

“We need it enacted now to reduce congestion. It’s incredibly frustrating,” she said.

“When we try to push for better, the big businesses start objecting. We want to take the congestion out and make the city more liveable, but it always comes back to money.

“The small retailers are on for this plan, they understand it’s beneficial for them if the city had good public transport, good access to cycling and pedestrianisation. That’s what makes a good city.”

Una Morrison, the chairperson of the Dublin Cycling Campaign, also echoed her thoughts on money playing a part in this decision.

“The Dublin City Centre Transport Plan was actually due to be implemented in August, but Brown Thomas is delaying it.

“They believe that a majority of shoppers travel to them by car, but those of us who travel by bus or by bike disagree. They obviously don’t want our Euros.

“It’s all about allowing buses, cyclists, and pedestrians to move through the city easier and removing traffic from cars.

“To enable more people to cycle through the city, we need to make sure there’s a network of segregated cycle lanes. People are put off cycling, we need a wide network of safe cycling.”

The Irish Independent has contacted Brown Thomas for comment.