Tanáiste out to stop ‘deeply flawed’ Herbert Road plan with Transport Minister meeting

By Hugh O'Farrell Walsh, The Wicklow People

Tánaiste Simon Harris will meet with Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien on Wednesday with the aim of stopping a proposal to close the Herbert Road junction on to the N11 in County Wicklow.

Speaking ahead of the crucial milestone in the campaign, which has been driven by local residents, he said that it was no longer about politics.

“This meeting is about one thing: stopping a deeply flawed, illogical and damaging proposal to close Herbert Road.

“I made a clear promise to residents that I would fight this closure with everything I have and today is a key step in the right direction.

“We will be sitting down with the Minister to make the case on behalf of residents in Bray, united as Wicklow representatives, to insist that this plan is scrapped.”

The meeting convened by Mr Harris follows significant engagement from residents, campaigners, and community representatives in recent months, with growing pressure on the Department of Transport and the National Transport Authority to halt plans to introduce a bus corridor along the route, to alleviate traffic congestion in the area.

Speaking ahead of the discussion, the Tánaiste described the proposed closure as “stupid” and “unworkable,” the Tánaiste reiterated the long-term consequences the plan would have on traffic flow, local business, emergency access, and quality of life in Bray and surrounding areas.”

“This is about common sense. The Herbert Road is a vital artery in our town and shutting it simply doesn’t stand up to logic. This proposed closure must be stopped.” he added.

The proposal was first introduced during the April meeting of Bray Municipal District and comes after thousands of submissions were made as part of a public consultation process, whereby community members raised serious concerns about the impact of the proposed closure on one of the four main arteries into Bray.

All Oireachtas members from Wicklow across political parties have been invited to attend today’s meeting.

The ‘Stop the closure of the Herbert Road’ campaign is expected to mount a further protest outside the gates of Leinster House as the meeting takes place.

Sinn Féin TD John Brady will also hand in a petition to the minister which has amassed thousands of signatures from residents against the proposal.