As a Business owner and Resident of Malahide for over 40 years I have never encountered anything that has created so much division in our community as the actions of FCC over the last 3 years on New Street. It is a shameful reflection on your council and elected officials that I fear will scar your relationship with our community for decades to come.

For 21 years I had two stores trading in harmony and complementing each other in Malahide Village. Last year I closed my Pharmacy at the Diamond. A site that has housed a Pharmacy since the 1930’s! “You can’t blame Pedestrianisation” I could hear them all say. Yet for over 40 years these 2 businesses have successfully coexisted serving the community. What the closure of New Street did do to my business was change the dynamic and function of the street for my aging patients. Previously they could be dropped off to collect their prescriptions in person, maintaining their independence, and their driver could do a quick loop of the village to come around and pick them up again. A large number began to request a delivery service or to have their prescription transferred to my other store. Yes, it is true to say you were lucky if you got a car parking spot on New Street, no one can deny that. What has changed to the detriment of the village core entirely is the ability to navigate the streets looking for parking in a timely manner. Residents are what holds many of our local businesses together. Ease of access in a busy life is what is important for most. Convenience will always win out. FCC have long pushed to prioritise Tourism over Residents, the rate payer. Now businesses that cater primarily for Tourist needs are being prioritised across the village to the detriment of others who do not.

The village of Malahide has all businesses centred around the Diamond. This has been the jewel in the crown for Malahide and a credit to the strict planning over the years to maintain a ‘heart’ for the village. The removal of the main artery that links residents and businesses together is resulting in hugely problematic traffic flow issues around the village both at on and off-peak times.

Deliveries have been inadequately accommodated throughout the village, resulting in trucks pulling in and blocking all traffic behind it in a desperate attempt to offload anywhere they can. A driver who delivers my prescription medicines to me has been verbally abused and physically threatened for doing such, resulting in the Gardai being called.

I strongly object to the proposed design of New Street. When has it been acceptable to grab public space and hand it over for free to private enterprise? If true pedestrianisation was the real goal for the street then it would be designed completely open for all the public to enjoy. I have a real problem with any ‘institution’ that takes public space and gives it over free of charge to a private business? Why must I be forced to buy a drink or food if I simply want to take a rest on a Public street? My premises traded as a Pharmacy for over 90 years now it is an Interiors shop. Why is the street being designed based on the current occupants of the units? With your current proposal if the Estate agent closes and becomes another hospitality business it will be immediately disadvantaged merely because in 2023 it was not a coffee shop! FCC are fundamentally changing the dynamic and economics of our village. No council should have such influence! We have seen where FCC allowed this happen in Howth which has nothing left to offer but Fish n Chips with Pints. Grafton street is frequently cited as a successful pedestrianisation. Maybe because the footpath space and road are truly given over completely to the pedestrian. There is no business being prioritised over another and the retail offering has thrived as a result. I fear this is already no longer the case for Malahide. In the time that FCC have interfered with New street we have lost 3 Retail businesses and gained 3 food and drink businesses. When I expressed the concern of this happening to your CEO 3 years again, I was personally told “Well there will be collateral damage for the success of this project”!! People’s livelihoods should never be subjected to this because of a fanciful whim of a council employee. I understand that people in favour love a coffee on the street. That is NOT transformation of the Public Realm. There’s an acre of Green space at the bottom of New Street that was transformed at great expense to provide that. Incidentally it has successfully done so because it is Truly an Open space for all with no agendas or influences from Private business.

The decision to remove Trees is conveniently lazy too. I have heard at many meetings with FCC over the years that the trees around Malahide are problematic to the maintenance of the footpaths and there is clearly evidence around our streets to support that. But if FCC can figure out how to fit a double decker bus hourly down Residential Old Street they can put their heads together to resolve the tree problem without destroying the elegant vista that they create in our Heritage Village. For reference, this was successfully achieved on St. Margaret’s road where concrete was replaced with attractive flexible tarmac. It is not good enough either that your next project proposes to remove all trees on the water side from the Scout den to the coast road.

The removal of our Public thoroughfare and the creation of anti social hubs is not acceptable to me for the future of the village I have loved and returned to raise my children in. This is a fait accompli that is being forced upon our community by a council that have failed to provide us with a legally required Local Area Plan. Like many in our community I am open to change. I have openly supported the School streets locally as it has shown to be a clear benefit to our children even though it has proven to bring the village to a complete standstill at times. But when a project such as New Street has been so cruelly divisive to the community from the outset and plagued with anger I implore on you councillors to review what you really think is best for OUR community.

Public Realm, New Street Malahide - Aighneachtaí

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