Bullring traffic reversal plan ‘total madness’
A plan by Wexford District Council to implement a trial reversal of traffic through the Bullring without making allowances for a left turn off the quay into Key West is ‘total madness’, according to a maintenance manager for commercial properties in the area.
Alan Malone is calling on the Council to leave 50 metres of road on Common Quay Street as a two-way system to facilitate residents, businesses and customers of Key West during a proposed reversal of one-way traffic from Cornmarket to the Quays.
Under the plan, which has been postoned beyond the original Febuary 1 start date, due to a restriction on Council work to essential maintenance during Covid Level 5, traffic will only be able to turn right into Key West while travelling in the direction of the quays. The reversal was requested in a majority vote by councillors worried about a negative impact of the current one-way system (from the quays to Cornmarket) on local businesses.
But Mr. Malone predicts that the removal of a left turn into Key West, will cause serious inconvenience for a large number of people. ‘There are three blocks of apartments in Key West with 45 apartments in total, 150 carpark spaces, two banks,a supermarket, Argos, two hairdressers a restaurant and a takeaway,’ he said.
‘Residents cannot be expected to cross Wexford’s Main Street every time they return home. Also in future, every car, delivery van and service vehicle will have to cross the main shopping street to enter key west carpark. This is unbelievable. It’s totally ridiculous. Common sense must prevail.’
Mr. Malone said residents will be able to see their apartments as they drive along the quay but will have to drive all the way down to Redmond Square, through Selskar onto Abbey Street and down through Cornmarket and the Bullring to reach their homes.
He said a short two-way system along the road at Meyler’s fish merchants would work and cited the example of Bride Street, which is one-way except for traffic going from Clifford Street into Bride Street car park. ‘If you forget your wallet, it doesn’t make sense to have to drive around the whole town to go back home to collect it.’