28/10/2024
See below the very positive email received by the Alliance from Steven Matthews TD following a meeting with him on Monday 21st Oct.
“Thank you for arranging the meeting this week, it is great that you have formed such a wide-ranging representative group and I look forward to working with you all. Please see update on actions from the meeting. Please feel free to share this with anyone ABR if you wish”.
N11
Please see the attached report from the public consultation process for the N11. I think it is a sensible approach from Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and Wicklow County Council (WCC) to revisit the section between Junction 6 and Junction 8. This part of the scheme contained the more controversial aspects of the scheme (this section is from Lower Dargle exit, Herbert Road junction, Enniskerry Road junction and Hills Roundabout junction)
I met with the consultants and the Department in July and made it very clear to them that closing Herbert Road junction was a disproportionate measure and was not necessary. I set out three options for them that would allow the access to Herbert Road and still allow a priority bus corridor for bus users south of Bray. TII have now agreed to look again at this section which is a sign that they are taking the concerns seriously.
Bus Connects for Bray
I have spoken with the National Transport Agency (NTA) to ask that a full (and as simple as possible) explanation document would be sent to households along the routes in Bray, that information days will be held and that public representatives will be briefed well in advance of commencement day and they are agreeable to this.
Transport Plan for Bray
I have written to Wicklow County Council senior executive roads engineer and the Active Travel team to request that they allocate funding from this year’s budget to carry out an integrated transport plan for Bray. (Active Travel refers to cycling, walking, Safe Routes to School) That the principles of the plan shall include public transport, road safety, walking and cycling, safe routes to schools, traffic management, parking facilities and accessibility and mobility plans throughout the town . I have agreed to work on ensuring funding from national funding sources (Department of Transport, NTA) will be sufficient to cover such a study. That prior to commencing a study that there would be widespread contact with all stakeholders (including ABR) to feed into the early stages of a plan. That there would be a review of the many existing plans and studies – what has worked, what hasn’t worked, what has not been progressed and why. That there should be a clear rationale and explanation of what the underlying problems in Bray are at a strategic level eg: Vevay Road, transport bridge, Dublin Road, Bray Bridge, parking access, permeability for cyclist and pedestrians, school drop offs etc
This is an urgent request and I will need the councillors to support me on this as they generally agree how the WCC budget shall be allocated.
Gardai
I have written to the Minister for Justice to seek the long term and shorter-term plan for Garda numbers for Bray (entire district area). A Parliamentary Question such as this, generally takes 10 days for a response so will send that on as soon as I receive it.
If I have missed any actions, please let me know, regards to all in ABR and I am available to meet or call any individuals or groups in the alliance if they wish (although I do expect a very busy few weeks ahead!)
Regards
