MainStreettraffic banisheretostay

November 1985

Wexford becomes the first town in Europe to pedestrianise its main shopping thoroughfare when the Main Street is closed to traffic next week.

While pedestrianisation is commonplace throughout Britain and the Continent, it is believed that no other town or city has ever completely banned traffic from its Main Street.

It is now planned to use the uniqueness of the Wexford scheme to promote the town as a commercial base. Co. Manager, Noel Dillon, said this week he expects Wexford to become the top shopping centre in the south-east region, while the Mayor said he sees pedestrianisation as part of an overall package to revitalise the town and begin the fightback against unemployment.

Wexford Chamber of Industry and Commerce, who were opponents for so long of any plan to ban traffic from the Main Street, are now fully behind the move too, and expect it to work to Wexford’s advantage.

Pedestrianisation will begin on Friday week, 15th November, and extends along the Main Street from The Bull Ring to the junction at Allen Street and Henrietta Street. The street will be closed to traffic from 11.30 a.m. to p.m. Monday to Thursday, and from 10.30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Loading and unloading facilities will be available in The Bull Ring, Rowe Street, Anne Street, and Allen Street. Car parks off the Main Street are Rowe Street-Mallon Street (160 spaces), Church Lane (150), Crescent (85), and Keyser’s Lane (50). Traffic will be allowed to cross the Main Street from Rowe Street to Church Lane car park during the closed hours.

The Co. Manager said this week that Wexford’s new ‘pedestrian paradise’ must be marketed aggressively to promote to the town. The scheme was unique in Europe and must be exploited to establish Wexford as the regional shopping centre, ahead of Waterford, Kilkenny, and Carlow.