Councillors in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown have voted, after a heated debate, to retain a proposed modal filter which would prevent cars using Tivoli Road in Dún Laoghaire as a through route.
The measure, which has proven highly controversial, is designed to make the road safer and more attractive for walkers and cyclists but opponents say it would inconvenience drivers and cause traffic chaos in the Glenageary, Sallynoggin, Mounttown and Glasthule areas.
In a debate which went on past midnight, supporters of the modal filter cited advice from council officials saying it is an essential part of the Living Streets scheme for Dún Laoghaire which would pedestrianise shopping areas in the town and create new civic spaces in the town.
The officials said if the scheme was amended by councillors to remove the Tivoli Road modal filter it would have to go back to the National Transport Authority for review and funding under the pathfinder programme could be lost.
Some councillors described the raising of the possibility of losing funding as blackmail.
Many councillors said they had received more communications from the public on the Tivoli Road aspect of the scheme than any other issue for many years and that there was great passion from both sides.
One opponent of the scheme, Fianna Fáil's Justin Moylan, accused council officials of being arrogant and aggressive in their response to the debate and was ruled out of order by the Cathaoirleach Denis O'Callaghan.
Fine Gael Councillor Mary Fayne proposed a motion to amend the Living Streets Scheme to remove the Tivoli Road restriction, saying it would make it impossible for people to drive from Sandycove, Glasthule or Dalkey to Stillorgan.
She was supported by Fianna Fáil's Michael Clarke, who described Tivoli Road as an arterial route and said it had appeared on maps dating as far back as the 1830s.
Other councillors said the carbon emissions removed from Tivoli Road by restricting cars there would just be moved to other areas.
Fianna Fáil Councillor Kate Feeney said councillors could not decide the issue on the basis of the number of emails they received from either side and must follow the data which showed the modal filter is needed.
The Green Party's Tom Kivlehan said it was about giving children the freedom to walk and cycle to school or around their local area.
Fine Gael's Lorraine Hall also supported the Living Streets Scheme with the inclusion of the modal filter saying that Tivoli road is currently unsafe for cyclists and pedestrians.
Oisin O'Connor of the Green Party said a field trip by councillors to the area had shown that pavements are too narrow for parents to hold the hands of two children. He said many parents were forced to make short journeys by car because it was not safe to walk.
Motions to remove the filter from the scheme were defeated by 24 votes to 14.
