Concern about parking and ramp in Stephen Street plan
CONCERNS about an access ramp, as well as disabled and other parking spaces on Stephen Street in Sligo as part of an enhancement plan for the street were expressed at a meeting of Sligo County Council. The makeover for Stephen Street is part of an overall Public Realm Plan for the improvement of a number of town centre streets, including the nearby Holborn Street, Rockwood Parade and Tobergal Lane, as well Stephen Street car park. On Stephen Street the plan is to provide wider footpaths “for a better pedestrian experience”, thereby reducing the width of the road; remove bollards and “street clutter to provide showcase seating and stepped plaza”; “celebrate heritage, architecture and the Yeats statue with seating and planting”; introduce trees and planting “for local wellbeing and biodiversity enhancement” and introduce high quality granite paving and street furniture.
The issues in relation to parking and the ramp came up under consideration of a chief executive’s report on part of the public consultation on the plan. There was a submission as part of the consultation stage from David Smith on behalf of Barton Smith’s shop. He expressed concern about the lack of vehicular access for the right of way between Carroll House and Millennium House which is used to take in goods and is also used by the local refuse companies.
He was also concerned about the removal of disabled parking outside his premises and the lack of parking in the lower portion of the street which he said “will affect our business greatly”.
The chief executive’s response stated that the current ramp outside between the footpath and the carriageway was not constructed according to current standards and could not be retained.
It pointed out that the current design does contain a ramp between the upper and lower public footpaths to the north of the Barton Smith shop which is compliant with current standards.
But the report stated that at detailed design stage, the design team would re-examine this issue and consider if any other provision or additional ramp could be included in the scheme to assist deliveries and refuse companies.
In relation to the accessible (disabled) parking bay, the report stated that it had been relocated to the west “to accommodate an improved public realm at this location”.
“There is no change to the amount of accessible parking bays on Stephen Street (two spaces).
“Car parking spaces are available within walking distance to the Barton Smith shop on Holborn Street and also on the north western end of Stephen Street,” the report stated. Several councillors raised the issue of the ramps and parking situation.
Cllr Declan Bree said that the ramp was an important issue for several businesses there to provide access to their rear of their premises.
Cllr Thomas Healy said that he was disappointed about the parking space there being lost and he said that loading bays were also important.
He said that at one time deliveries would be made in the morning but nowadays deliveries were going on all day and there needed to be enough loading bays.
Cllr Thomas Walsh said that it was important the access ramp was retained as he said there were a lot of business who were going to be going through a tough time in the years ahead because of the pandemic.
Cllrs Rosaleen O’Grady, Marie Casserly and Arthur Gibbons
also spoke of the need for more consultation regarding these issues.
Director of Services Dorothy Clarke said that the concerns about the ramp and parking had been raised with them and they would be consulting with the design team on these issues and they would also be consulting with local businesses and the local community.
“This is going to be a major transformation of this part of town but we are not going to take anybody’s rights away,” she said.
Ms Clarke said that “things may have to move up or down” but it would be done in consultation with local businesses and the issues raised by the members would be taken on board.