Controversial Tralee traffic plan gets the green light

THE controversial plan to transform Tralee’s town centre traffic system is to go ahead after local councillors voted unanimously infavourofit.

The plan – which will see two-way traffic restored on Denny Street to allow for the part pedestrianisation of The Mall – met with vigorous opposition from town centre traders, residents and taxi drivers.

The focus of the opposition centred on the loss of 66 parking spaces and the installation of twin taxi ranks on Denny Street.

Following consultations with businesses and taxi drivers Kerry County Council management amended the plan.

No taxi ranks will now be installed on Denny Street and the existing 24-hour Mall taxi rank will now be replaced by a number of smaller ranks in various locations around the town centre.

Night time only ranks will operate at Edward Street and in the set down and loading bays that are to be created on the refurbished Mall. 24-hour ranks will be installed at Bridge Lane near Shaws and at Abbey Court.

A proposal from taxi drivers that a rank be installed at Courthouse Lane was rejected but council management said they may consider it in the future.

Council management said the loss of parking spaces will be alleviated by the decision not to put taxi ranks on Denny Street – a move which frees up 14 parking spaces – and by the provision of additional spaces at the rear of the Ashe Memorial Hall at the southern end of Denny Street.

In its report to councillors management of Tralee Municipal District Council conceded that their original plan to place taxi ranks on Denny Street – which was strongly opposed by hoteliers and residents on the street – “would have created more problems than it would have solved.”

The amended plan – which was designed following meetings with traders, residents and taxi drivers and following receipt of 18 public submissions – was approved unanimously by councillors at Monday’s meeting of the Tralee Municipal District council.

As councillors had previously been briefed on the various aspects of the plan there was no public debate on the matter in the chamber ahead of the vote.

With the plan now approved by councillors work on Denny Street is expected to get underway soon.

An artist’s impression of the planned ‘shared space’ semi pedestrianised area to be created in The Mall and Bridge St areas of Tralee. The plan also requires the return of two way traffic on Denny St.