POST COVID-19 ONE WAY PEDESTRIAN SYSTEM
THE roll out of the one way footpath system in Dundalk begins this week as shops, cafes and businesses open up in a post pandemic world.
Launched as a ‘Good Will’ system, it will effectively mean pedestrians and shoppers will be signposted to follow a one way system on the town’s footpaths, to allow for the social distancing that has become a part of daily life in recent months.
‘ The COVID-19 pandemic has radically altered how we go about our daily lives how we get groceries, where we go, who we see, and what we do, said a spokesman for Louth County Council, as the local authority rolled out the system this week.
‘ The requirement of ‘social or physical distancing’—maintaining at least 2 meters distance between people, with significant reductions or bans on group gatherings and crowds—combined with what we know today about the transmission of this corona virus and its increased communicability in indoor settings, requires that we reallocate our streets and public realm for public use during this crisis and for the future.’
He added: ‘ We are working in real time to grapple with COVID’s devastating economic impacts. Louth County Council is working with the Business Improvement Districts in Dundalk and Drogheda and the Disability Louth Forum to chart a safe course to allow businesses, and services to re-open in the town centres. The Council has conducted street audits and identified queuing hot spots. With the assistance of the BIDS town centre manager’s different solutions are being rolled through consultation with the retailers. The roll out of the one way footpath system in Dundalk is due to commence next week. This is a Good Will system. As the phases in the National Road map commence more businesses and retailers will open and footfall will increase.’
The local authority stressed the need for ‘phased interventions and constant review and monitoring.’
‘It is important that the measures we take are inclusive and age friendly. The council has held discussions with representatives of the Disability Louth Forum. Our challenge is the same for this group to make the town centre safe for them to carry out their daily lives. Those with disabilities face additional challenges in regards to queuing particularly the visually impaired and those with an intellectual disability. Those with a hearing disability have problems with understanding staff with masks, and hearing staff behind screens. The Council is working with the Disability forum, and the traders to find solutions.’
He explained that some suggestions have been for the traders to have a Disability customer charter, appointments for those with a disability, priority queuing, Q & collect systems, and disability parking to be considered and augmented in any change street solutions.
‘We are starting on this journey the identification of queuing hot spots and the town centre one way footpaths systems are the first phase. The next stage is to develop proposals for potential outdoor food court areas, and additional queuing areas. We have identified possible locations using existing underutilised areas and parts of the public realm that are not required for pedestrian traffic. We are examining proposals for some streets with large footfall where parking could be used for pedestrians or food courts.
‘With the assistance of BIDS we are identifying restaurant clusters and designate ‘dining street’ zones. Louth County Council is proposing to waive permit fees for outdoor dining within preselected zones.’
‘While responding to the immediate urgent situation under Phase 1 we will have more opportunity to engage with stakeholders in the coming weeks. Ensuring the voices of a wide variety of local stakeholders is essential to project development and implementation. Local groups will provide key information to make projects better and help disseminate information.’