Long-awaited active travel scheme in Wicklow village forced to restart due to staff shortages
The Wicklow PeopleWicklow County Council has formally relaunched the Convent Road Active Travel Scheme in Delgany, after the original Part 8 process was declared invalid due to missed statutory timelines.
Councillors expressed disbelief and frustration at their latest district meeting that such a significant project had been delayed because the statutory clock was allowed to run out, with Cllr Lourda Scott, Cllr Louise Fenlon Gaskin and Cllr Stephen Stokes all emphasising that staffing shortages cannot be permitted to derail major public realm schemes.
The active travel office confirmed that the previous consultation, held between February and April this year, has been fully superseded and that all earlier submissions are void, meaning residents must now resubmit their views if they want them considered.
The recommenced application marks the first time the project has re-entered the statutory planning system since the procedural lapse.
It again proposes a full redesign of the 200‑metre stretch between Church Road and Convent Court, including the removal of through traffic, the installation of a modal filter to make Convent Road a local access only street, widened footpaths, raised crossings and a mini‑roundabout at Convent Court to act as a turning head for vehicles.
Road markings for the one-way system in Delgany.
The carriageway would narrow to five metres and operate as a 20 km/h shared space, with four parking spaces, a disabled bay, a loading bay, new trees, benches and public realm upgrades included.
Engineers describe the existing layout as car-dominant, with narrow footpaths, no cycling infrastructure and persistent illegal parking, and argue that the redesign is necessary to create a safer and more accessible village centre environment.
The planning submission is accompanied by updated statutory assessments, including an environmental impact assessment (EIA) screening report and an appropriate assessment (AA) screening report. Both again conclude that the project does not trigger the need for more detailed environmental studies.
The EIA screening states that there is no real likelihood of significant environmental effects, while the AA screening finds no pathway for impacts on nearby European sites such as the Glen of the Downs SAC. Wicklow County Council has accepted both determinations, clearing the way for the Part 8 to proceed without further environmental assessment.
The rationale for the scheme remains unchanged. The council highlights steep gradients, narrow building to building widths of just over eight metres and limited space for alternative traffic arrangements as key constraints shaping the design. Earlier options such as one‑way systems and shared‑surface concepts were assessed but ultimately rejected.
A pivotal influence was the eight-week closure of Convent Road in 2022, when drainage works temporarily removed through‑traffic.
According to the council, footfall increased during the closure and residents reported a calmer, more village‑like atmosphere.
Local groups including Delgany Community Council, the Delgany Village Businesses Alliance and Delgany Tidy Towns subsequently expressed support for making the arrangement permanent.
Councillors stressed that the administrative failure that forced the restart must not be repeated.
They called for immediate action to ensure the active travel team is adequately resourced, warning that any further missed deadlines undermine public confidence and jeopardise the delivery of key mobility projects.
The council will accept submissions until July 30, 2026, and only those received during this consultation window will be considered.