Committee looking at traffic and transport issues in Bray have yet to hold first meeting

By Hugh O'Farrell Walsh, The Wicklow People

It’s emerged that a subcommittee first proposed over six months ago to review traffic and transport issues in Bray has not yet held its first meeting.

The aim of the Bray Municipal District Traffic and Transport Sub-committee is to provide a structured platform to “comprehensively examine traffic, transport and mobility challenges in Bray and to develop sustainable and innovative solutions for the future”.

The members include four Bray councillors, as well as the Bray Municipal District engineer and district administrator, a member of the Active Travel Section, a representative of Wicklow County Council Roads Section, and reps from An Garda Síochána, Iarnród Éireann and Dublin Bus.

The committee’s formation in January followed on from extensive lobbying and community engagement by, amongst others, the Alliance of Bray Residents Association to a district council meeting last October.

During their presentation campaign group members demanded immediate action to address the lack of traffic and mobility planning in the town.

Elected members discussed the committee’s terms of reference during their district meeting in March when then Cathaoirleach Dermot O’Brien called it a “challenge and an opportunity”.

However, it’s understood that a first meeting has yet to take place.

In a statement issued on Friday, Alliance convenor Clare O'Connor said the lack of movement on the issue has extinguished the expectation that change would happen.

“We cannot avoid the perception that the establishment of the sub-committee was a cynical step designed to placate, rather than pro-actively address, the concerns of residents and other stakeholders of the town.

The events of the past months in relation to the proposed closure of the Herbert Road / N11 junction can leave no-one in any doubt that the residents of Bray are long past being placated by a council which appears deaf to our concerns.”

She urged council members to work positively to find solutions and overcome obstacles.

“Promising a committee at some indeterminate time in the future is not enough. We must see some action” she added.