Pensioners and young 'to suffer' in bus route rejig
Bus users in south Dublin are facing cuts to some services under new proposals.
Dublin Bus has proposed a number of changes to the bus services in the area.
The plans include the removal of the 7 bus from the Sallynoggin area.
It is proposed to split the bus terminus for this service between Loughlinstown Park and Cherrywood.
Residents would be left with no direct route to town or to St Vincent's hospital.
The number 45a, which runs from Kilmacanogue to Dun Laoghaire Dart station, would be rerouted through Sallynoggin every 30 minutes under the plans.
A number of other routes are also facing changes that local representatives say will have a dramatic impact on the quality of the service in the area.
"The distance between the existing bus stops and the proposed newer ones is far too great for the elderly or people with disabilities to access," Cllr Cormac Devlin said.
The Fianna Fail councillor said that the changes to the 7 bus were "unacceptable" and encouraged people to get in touch with the company to air their views on the matter.
The number 8 bus route would be amalgamated with the 59 bus.
The 111 route will be discontinued and the 7 and 59 will be revised to provide an alternative.
Fine Gael councillor John Bailey said local people are outraged at the changes which they feel will see a huge decline in their local service.
"I'll lie down in front of a bus in protest before I'll let this happen. It's that serious," he told the Herald.
"People rely on the buses for the colleges in the area, as well as the hospitals and commuting to work and school."
A special meeting of the Dun Laoghaire Area Committee is planned for this Thursday to discuss the matter with a representative from the Dublin Bus company.
Last week more than 200 people attended a public meeting in Sallynoggin to decide on a plan to oppose the changes.
Richard Boyd Barret, a People Before Profit TD, also raised the issue in the Dail.
"Huge numbers of residents in big community areas, particularly young people, the elderly and students are going to suffer severely as a result of these proposals if they are implemented," he said.
Dublin Bus said that the planned changes were designed to increase frequency and capacity in the area.
Improve
The company also said that the hope was that the move would improve journey times and ease traffic congestion in some areas.
The plans are currently out to public consultation and Dublin Bus has said it is open to meeting with interested parties before finalising the proposals.
"Overall the proposals will improve the public transport network in the area, providing dedicated access to Loughlinstown Hospital, and increasing service levels to key destinations such as Cherrywood," a spokeswoman said.