Outdoor dining on the menu this Summer

PLAN Council seeks to pedestrianise Cavan Town Centre on weekends

Al fresco dining at Market Square could be on the cards this summer, with the local authority exploring pedestrianising Cavan Town’s Main Street at weekend evenings to encourage more outdoor economic activity.

Members of the public, business owners and community groups have until the end of the month to influence the proposal, which would see temporary pedestrianisation introduced between Friday and Sunday, during the months of June, July, August and September.

The vision is to close off traffic from the junction of Church Street and Thomas Ashe Street to the junction of Connolly Street and College Street from 6pm to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, and from 3-9pm on Sundays.

The move is considered a means to facilitate the safe use of outdoor space for dining, commercial and social activity as Covid restrictions ease.

While supportive, some local businesses believe the plan should only go ahead so long as it is policed well and streets are cleaned-up afterwards.

“It has to be policed properly and, in the morning, when businesses arrive in to open up, that the streets are clean. I can’t see how anyone would have a problem with that,” says jeweller and hairdresser Karen Sheriff. “So long as we’re guaranteed it can be done safely. There are pros and cons to everything but I think people would like to see something go ahead. The likes of the publicans need this the most, they need a little bit of support given all that’s happened and maybe this is the best way to do it,” she added.

Pacelli Lynch also supports the proposal, so long as it doesn’t serve as “dipping the toe” towards implementing pedestrianisation in the longer term.

“It smacks in ways of what was proposed in 2005,” says Mr Lynch, who adds that he will do whatever he can to help facilitate measures to support sectors of the local business community worst hit by the Covid restrictions.

“I certainly am not against the idea, so long as it is temporary and is there to help out restaurants,” he said.

Mr Lynch agrees with Ms Sheriff that the success of the plan hinges on anti-social activity being curbed.

“They’ll have to clean the streets and start earlier in the mornings... What we witness as business people at 7am along the walls, the buckets of sick and everything else that goes with it, that can’t be allowed happen.”

Head Chef at The Oak Room, Norbert Neylon believes pedestrianisation could be the “saving grace” some businesses in the hospitality sector need - either temporarily or as a part of a wider future strategy.

The restaurant owner notes that pedestrianisation has long been suggested on Bridge Street, where his own business is located. He welcomes the move.

“I’d love to see a street or two pedestrianised in the town anyway, whether this was to happen or not,” considers Mr Neylon, who regards outdoor dining in Ireland, given the country’s at-times indeterminable weather, as “fickle”.

“It’s certainly maybe not a year round thing and I know there are people against it, but pedestrianisation, a street or two even, I feel it would be a huge boost for the town. It’s been proven in some towns already, and in European cities, that it’s the way forward.”

All feedback on the pedestrianisation proposal, including the names of respondents, must be submitted marked ‘Temporary Pedestrianisation’ by Monday, May 31, to Kathleen Reilly, Roads Section, Cavan County Council, or by email to Kathleen Reilly at kareilly@cavancoco.ie

The submissions will form part of a report to be presented to Cavan Belturbet Municipal District before a final decision is made on what shape the plan will take.

A Cavan County Council spokesperson said: “It is envisaged that the trial scheme will be low cost and easily modified to meet the needs of our Town as the occasion arises.”