Councillors clash over future of Wicklow’s one way system — ‘People are sick to the back teeth of it’
The Wicklow PeopleA six‑year dispute over Wicklow town’s one‑way traffic system resurfaced at the May monthly meeting of Wicklow district councillors, where local representatives clashed once again over whether the long‑controversial layout should be scrapped or retained until a full traffic management plan for the town is completed.
The system, introduced on a temporary basis in 2021 as part of a wider package of traffic‑calming and public‑realm improvements, has never been fully embraced by the public. While it was intended to improve safety, manage congestion and support active travel, it has instead become one of the most persistent and politically sensitive issues in the district, with councillors and businesses repeatedly calling for clarity that has yet to arrive.
The one‑way system was later absorbed into a broader traffic management plan for Wicklow town, which is examining the entire town‑centre network, including traffic flows, pedestrian and cycling movements, parking supply, junction performance and future development pressures. According to the council, no final decision will be made on the system until this plan is complete.
Consultants have been appointed and are actively working on the project, but the process is taking longer than expected. The plan will present multiple options, including retaining, modifying or removing the one‑way system. The council has acknowledged the delays and the frustration they have caused but maintains that acting prematurely could worsen congestion.
That frustration was evident throughout a large part of the meeting. Cllr Gail Dunne delivered the strongest call yet for the system to be scrapped, saying it “is not working” and has “run its course”. He said public attitudes have shifted decisively against it and cited a survey referencing shopkeepers who oppose the current layout.
Cllr Dunne said he receives numerous calls a month from residents and traders complaining about congestion, parking difficulties and the placement of planters and flower boxes, which he argued are not functioning as intended.
“People are sick to the back teeth of it,” he said, adding that the council had already spent €100,000 on footpath works without resolving the underlying issues. He argued that reverting to a two‑way system would ease congestion and restore confidence among businesses. Dunne also criticised the prolonged wait for technical assessments, saying councillors had been waiting five years for a consolidated report. “I hope we’ll still be elected members by the time the report arrives,” he remarked.
Cllr Graham Richmond acknowledged the public’s frustration but urged colleagues not to act without the full technical picture. He said the planters were installed to prevent unsafe parking and that any changes must be informed by proper safety audits, which take time. Cllr Richmond said he shared Cllr Dunne’s concerns but believed it was important to wait for the consolidated report currently being prepared, arguing that councillors needed to work through the issue together rather than make decisions in isolation.
Cllr Paul O’Brien also expressed frustration but warned that the debate had become clouded by misinformation circulating online. He said many of the complaints he receives relate to parking rather than the one‑way system itself and warned that reverting to two‑way traffic would result in the loss of over 20 parking spaces in a town already struggling with parking shortages.
Cllr O’Brien rejected accusations made against certain councillors, describing them as unfounded, and said he would not “play politics” with the issue. While acknowledging that a decision point is approaching, he insisted that members must base their choices on verified information rather than pressure or online commentary.
Cllr John Snell said he supported Cllr Dunne’s position but agreed that councillors needed all relevant information before making a final decision. He said the issue had dragged on for too long and that the public’s patience was wearing thin. Cllr Snell said the council should consult with the Town Team and the Chamber of Commerce to ensure that any decision reflects the needs of businesses and residents.
He noted that other towns, including Rathdrum and Arklow, had faced similar pushback when introducing one‑way systems. An informed decision was essential, he said, but so too was clarity on whether the matter ultimately falls under the executive’s authority, describing the situation as “a bit of a grey area”.
Responding to councillors, district manager Brian Gleeson urged members to wait for the consolidated expert report before making any changes. He said consultants are already working on the project, but the process is taking longer than anticipated. He estimated a six‑month timeline for the report and committed to providing updates as they become available.
Mr Gleeson warned that altering the system prematurely could leave the town more congested than it already is. He also clarified that traffic‑calming measures fall under the executive’s remit, while any Part 8 planning process would come before councillors, contributing to the uncertainty around decision‑making.
A vote on the issue could not be taken, as the item was listed as a non‑statutory agenda item. Despite the lack of a formal decision, the meeting made clear that the future of Wicklow’s one‑way system is approaching a critical juncture. With the expert report still months away, councillors and the public remain caught between long‑standing frustration and the need for evidence‑based decision‑making. The traffic management plan is expected to provide the clarity that has been missing for years, but until then, the debate over the one‑way system is likely to remain one of the most contentious issues in the district.