Council to appeal court’s decision to block cycleway

DUBLIN City Council has confirmed that it will appeal a High Court decision that stopped it from building a controversial new cycleway in Sandymount.

Locals had argued that the Strand Road Trial Cycle Route Scheme would have brought traffic chaos, affecting residents, businesses, schools and sports clubs in the Dublin 4 area.

However, the council has said last month’s judgment has implications for current and future cycleways.

It has said it will be seeking an expedited hearing of the case before the Court of Appeal. In his High Court judgment, Judge Charles Meenan had said the council was wrong in asserting the work did not need planning permission because it was a traffic-calming measure, and was also incorrect in believing an environmental assessment was not required.

Judge Meenan ruled the cycleway would have to go through the full planning process to proceed.

The Serpentine Avenue, Tritonville and Claremont Roads group welcomed his ruling. They argued the proposed two-lane bike lane would have caused traffic chaos in Sandymount and wider areas.