Half Moon Lane works 'not a priority'; Councillor hits out at timeline for pedestrian access to city amenity

The pedestrian entrance to Tramore Valley Park from Half Moon Lane won’t be open until this time next year.

Green Party Councillor Dan Boyle has expressed his frustration at the continued delays to the process.

“I asked the question, when I was reelected last year at the first council meeting in July 2019. I was given a timeline then that the work would be completed by now,” he told The Echo.

“It just seems to be the same timetable put into a different time.

“Until we see the start of the process, it’s hard to see the end of the process,” he added.

The Part 8 to facilitate the opening of the Half Moon Lane entrance to Tramore Valley Park is set to go on public display at the end of the month. It had been penciled in for the second week in August.

The plans, when completed, will see changes to the junction with the South Douglas Road, changes on the lane itself, and will enable the entrance to the park to be opened to pedestrians and cyclists.

The public will be asked for their submissions on the proposals once they go on display.

Councillor Boyle feels the opening of the entrance hasn’t been a priority for City Hall chiefs, with other projects overtaking it in terms of timeframe.

“We can see that Part 8s and other planning have been put into place since. If there is a certain order for things to be done it doesn’t seem that opening the gate at Half Moon Lane is particularly high on that,” he said.

Mr Boyle said he feels a stronger case could be made for the funding and it could be made available sooner.

“I’m beginning to wonder whether there are internal factors that we’re not being told about,” he said.

He went on to say that while it is a busy road, it is already used by lots of pedestrians at peak congregation times, and again suggested opening the gate temporarily to pedestrian access similar to other city streets as he believes that temporary bollards could have been erected on the lane.

But he added: “There is a total opposition among City Council officials to do anything like that.”