WCC Spin Delgany Roundabout Cul-de-Sac Again

Getting there…

here was much hooting and hollering and shots fired in the air around Delgany village when their preferred Part 8 process for turning the main thoroughfare into a cul de sac was launched back in February. 

This was the result of several years of blood, sweat and tea during which 7 different options were explored by a team of engineers with the goal of improving access for pedestrians and cyclists as well as saving the village from being a daily late-again rat run for schools.

Finally, after a certain amount of kicking and screaming with a much-loved town engineer, Wicklow County Council decided to put one of the proposals out for public consultation. All of the documents and plans are available here.

And with all the submissions filed and everyone waiting with baited breath for the result, WCC spotted a glitch in the process – namely, the ‘identification of a procedural issue whereby the Chief Executive’s Report was not completed within the prescribed statutory timeframe‘. And so, the process has started all over again.

Emails were sent to those who made submissions, asking if they’d like to transfer to the new application, with the new deadline is July 30th, and the decision due August 11th.

The Convent Active Travel Scheme involves the introduction of a modal filter north of the Convent Court junction which will make Convent Road local access only. Improved pedestrian facilities will be provided on both sides of Convent Road, and new pedestrian crossings will be provided.

A loading bay will be provided on the southern end of the scheme, and on-street car parking spaces will be provided at the northern end of the scheme. A disabled car parking space will also be provided.

Which is so, so, so much better than a certain someone’s preferred two-way system with just three parking spaces outside the old Carmelite convent.

Nuts. Whole hazel nuts.

And the less said about the much-trumpeted one-way Scalextric option, the better.

Plans and particulars of the proposed development should still be available for inspection, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, during office hours Monday to Friday, excluding Bank Holidays, at the following locations until July 16th:

1. The Offices of Wicklow County Council, County Buildings, Whitegate, Station Road, Wicklow, Co. Wicklow, A67 FW96.
2. Greystones Municipal District, Civic Offices, Mill Road, Greystones, Co. Wicklow, A63 TX86.

The Delgany Community Council held an information meeting at The Horse & Hound back in March, and you can check that out here.

Says ringleader Ms Shields of the cul-de-sac, “Please take a look at what is proposed. You will also be able to read about the other proposals that were explored as well as why this one was selected as the most suitable one.”

Submissions are invited from the public with a new closing date of July 30th. You can email [email protected] (putting Convent Road Active Travel Scheme Part 8 in the subject line). It’s case no.26115 over on the Wicklow Planning website here.

Details here, preferred option under consideration here, the Public Realm Enhancement Plan for Delgany here, and some Farrelly words of wisdom here.