Debate to be held next month on whether to reopen Connolly Street to traffic

A discussion as to whether or not Connolly Street on the Westside of town should be re-opened will take place at next month’s town council meeting. A letter on behalf of a local traders, which included a petition signed by 13 residents and all business-people with rear access to Connolly Street, was sent to the council, asking for the total re-opening of the street and total access restored. The letter was read out at Monday’s town council meeting by Town Clerk John Walsh, who decided, with councillors, that the issue would be included in the agenda for December’s monthly meeting. Connolly Street was closed off in January 2000 under the 1994 Road Traffic Act, after council members decided to close off the narrow street, mainly because of illegal parking causing access problems for residents in 1999. Town Clerk John Walsh said it used to be a case that residents and business-people had keys to the bollards so that they could open them when needed, but that this was open to abuse and often the bollards were not reinstated. Now the council is in charge of opening the bollards when needed. “It’s either a closed street or it’s not. On request and with some notice, we open the bollards to provide access when needed,” said Mr Walsh. “If members want to reconsider it, it’s a matter for the councillors.” If the council decides to reopen the street, ten years later, a majority of councillors will have to agree to the decision at December’s meeting, then it will be advertised in the media for public submissions and once they are received and noted, a final decision will be made. Currently, there is only one business on Connolly Street, however all the businesses and buildings on St Peter’s Square have rear access to the street as well and many deliveries are taken in from there.