Donal Matthews,
Con Coll,
Traffic Dept.,
Dublin Corporation
27 January 2000
Dear Sirs,
Given the limited correspondence but extensive meetings between our Association and Dublin Corporation on the proposed Marino / Fairview Traffic Calming Scheme, we wish to formally advise you of our concerns with the plan as drafted. We wish to remind you that our Association issued a report on "Traffic in Fairview" in 1995 and this has guided much of our thinking to date.
In summary, we are very pleased with the proposals but would like the following points to be considered before construction begins.
1) Pedestrian signals on Philipsburgh Ave at the Spar shop: where
precisely will these be located? We like the original proposal halfway
between Waverley & Melrose as this is near the Spar shop (and we have
been seeking it for years). Moving it further northwards would be too close
to either Waverley Ave. or Brian Road junctions. Moving it southwards is
impractical, as there are almost constant entries as far as Windsor Villas,
which has a lollipop lady at school times. We instead suggest that the
northbound 123 stop be moved the minimum necessary. Please also ensure
there is an audio signal included.
2) Entry Feature at Fairview church: We are strongly of the opinion
that a significant, landscaped Millennium feature be erected here - perhaps
commemorating the Battle of Clontarf, which was fought in this area almost
1,000 years ago. This could incorporate landscaping, sculpture, name-stone,
seating etc. This junction is the key point in the Fairview area and should
suggest the area's history and heritage. Fairview Church will soon be floodlit
and yet this area right next to it is in danger of becoming a dump / eyesore.
The Association heartily approves the decision to prevent parking here
and we know you will understand the necessity to improve this area. We
suggest that a competition to design the feature be organised and that input
from local community would be an appropriate approach to take to this rare
opportunity. Dublin Corporation's excellent small parks and other commendable
features (e.g. recent lamp standard refurbishment and the Alfie Byrne feature
& seating) are the types of thing we have in mind. It should be vandal
proof & include the area's name in Irish & English. Could we remind
you that the Association sent our draft environmental improvement plan,
"Fairview 2005", to the Corporation two years ago. We suggest
that the 1% public art fund is used to part-finance this & we are willing
to help with seeking extra sponsorship if this is deemed to be necessary.
3) Parking at Philipsburgh Avenue north of CYMC: Our consultations
with you on this issue seem to come down to a choice between either (i)
on-street parking on west-side or (ii) alter line of path on east side to
allow residents extend towards the road. At this stage we would suggest
you go ahead with the west-side parking but ensure design will ensure no
parking on east-side "common" area as this has been a constant
source of harassment to the residents for years.
4) Signal settings and pedestrian phase at Philipsburgh Avenue / Fairview
Strand: These must be changed to ensure that (i) pedestrians are allowed
cross Philipsburgh Avenue without problem; (ii) the short red phase between
green turn right signal & full green is eliminated and (iii) an audio
warning is put in place.
5) Flooding: The scheme should learn from the mistakes made in the
Malahide Road QBC debacle: (i) the consistent flooding at the Fairview /
Merville Ave. junction must be stopped, (ii) similarly the flooding at Edge's
Corner (Fairview / Fairview Strand junction) from Joe's shop to Duggan's
jewellers must stop and (iii) the design should ensure no further flooding
problems arise in the scheme.
6) Makeup of junction platforms on Philipsburgh Avenue: we would
like to be consulted as to what precisely these platforms will look like.
We have an open mind at the moment regarding the choice of material etc.
but we need more information.
7) Double / single yellow lines should be painted on all junctions,
in particular on Philipsburgh Avenue, to clarify legal requirements. At
the moment parking close to junctions is creating a hazard.
8) The Corporation and the Garda should enforce the law on parking
on footpaths - in particular we are concerned when when buggy or wheelchair
user clearly can not pass without resorting to the roadway. Ticketing in
this case is not enough - clamping or towing is required.
9) Extend pedestrian phase at the pedestrian crossing at Edge's corner
when coming from Fairview Park to island. This is a blind bend and the
current response time (button push to green man) is insufficient. Cars
tend to exceed speed limit here and crossing without the signal is almost
impossible.
10) A Traffic island is required in the middle of Fairview Strand
at the Richmond Road junction to enable pedestrians to cross Fairview Strand.
11) School access from Windsor Avenue is currently in a terrible
state: there should be clear access to school for pedestrians & ambulances.
12) Remove the one-way on Shelmartin Avenue to Brian Road and replace
with a ramp. In addition the new cul-de-sac in Brian Terrace should have
a car turning area, as it is very narrow. Indeed this is true of all the
road closures suggested.
13) Signage:
a) one-way only north-to-south on Windsor Ave - sign required at school
exit;
b) remove south-facing sign @ school and replace on north side of school;
c) erect cul-de-sac signs at the entrance to all cul-de-sacs - including
newly created ones;
d) erect "Children at play" signs for Melrose, Waverley, Lomond,
Annadale Avenues and Foyle Road;
e) erect "Road Narrows" & "New Traffic Signals"
signs at appropriate points on Philipsburgh Avenue;
14) Examine feasibility and need for limited number of either junction
platforms or yellow box junctions on Philipsburgh Avenue especially
at Brian Road & St. Joseph's Terrace.
15) Examine feasibility and need for convex mirrors to assist with
exiting from side-roads on to bigger roads especially at Windsor Villas
and St. Joseph's Terrace.
16) Give consideration to junction at Fairview / Fairview Avenue to allow
right turn from Malahide Road direction but put safety measures in place.
17) Disk parking is required for Cadogan Road & Addison Road
- the residents should be polled in this regard.
18) Traffic on Richmond Avenue & Richmond Estate is in an absolutely
appalling condition and needs to be urgently reviewed with a view to protecting
the residents. Current parking and traffic laws need to be enforced. This
are should be included in the proposed Tolka Road or Drumcondra East Traffic
Calming Scheme as it was excluded from the Marino Fairview scheme.
Given the urgency, we hope for a rapid response. As always, we are willing
to meet you to discuss any points you may have.
Is mise,
______________________________
Pádraig de Burca
Cc.
City Manager
Albert Fry Associates, Dromore House, 60 Amiens St., Dublin 1
Local TDs & councillors
On behalf of Fairview Residents’ Association
. . 