Private traffic is restricted along the Liffey quays in Dublin. Photo: Getty
The High Court has granted permission to a group of traders to bring a challenge claiming Dublin City Council acted beyond its powers in introducing the new city transportation plan.
The alliance seeks to challenge traffic changes and restrictions on the use of private vehicles at O’Connell Bridge, Bachelor’s Walk, Eden Quay, Aston Quay, Burgh Quay and Fleet Street.
Private traffic is not permitted to drive east and west along the Liffey quays on either side of O’Connell Bridge from 7am to 7pm to encourage the use of public transport and cycling.
The traders claim the results of these changes will have an overall negative impact of €390m and lead to thousands of job losses by 2028.
Dublin City Centre Traders Alliance, led by solicitor Noel Smyth, is bringing judicial review proceedings over the effects of traffic calming measures and works on several Liffey quays put into place by the council.
The case is against the council and the National Transport Authority (NTA) .
The alliance includes the owners of city centre car parks, including those connected to Brown Thomas, Arnotts and the Jervis Shopping Centre, and counts the Restaurants Association of Ireland and tailor Louis Copeland among their members.
The transport plan adopted has a stated aim to reduce congestion by discouraging traffic “that has no destination in the city”.
Mr Smyth submits in his papers that a July 2024 report commissioned by the traders predicts that the adoption of the plan would have an overall negative impact of €390m.
The traders’ report predicts a decrease in retail spending in the year 2028 of €141m and a loss of over 6,000 jobs, leading to the total “adverse monetary impact” of €390m.
The traders claim the adoption order for the plan was “invalid and made in breach of fair procedures and natural justice”.
It is also claimed that a questionnaire, provided during an 11-week public consultation that closed on December 1, 2023, was “biased” and designed to “prompt answers in support” of the plan.
Mr Justice Richard Humphreys granted permission to bring the challenge following a one-side-only-represented application from Eamon Galligan SC, for the traders.