“Castleknock commuters will be left stranded” says councillor

In January, Community Voice reported on the plans being formulated by Dublin Bus to move the terminus of the No. 37 service from its present location in Fernleigh to the Blanchardstown Centre.

According to Paddy Doherty, business development manager with Dublin Bus the company was planning the move following the completion of the bus lanes on Blanchardstown Road South. Instead of ending its journey in Fernleigh it is now being proposed that the bus will continue its journey from Carpenterstown across the Canon Troy Bridge and up the Blanchardstown Road South to its new destination at the Town Centre.

However as details of the proposals start to sink in, local residents of the Carpenterstown area and further down into Castleknock have started to raise concerns about the effect the move will have on their daily commuting.

Cllr. Eithne Loftus (FG) has now called on Dublin Bus to re-consider its plans as she feels it will leave Castleknock commuters stranded as buses will now be full by the time they reach Carpenterstown and Castleknock.

Speaking to Community Voice she said, “I am very concerned that the bus will fill up with passengers from Blakestown, Mountview and Clonsilla before it gets to Carpenterstown and Laurel Lodge.“ Despite assurances by Dublin Bus that it will be using slightly bigger buses with greater capacity to service the route she remains unhappy with the proposal.

According to Cllr. Loftus, “if the plan goes ahead, there will have to be a major increase in frequency on this route. At the very least, Dublin Bus should agree to start some buses in Laurel Lodge during the morning rush hour period. This would ensure that no one is left stranded at the bus stop.”

She is also calling for the deregulation of bus services to allow private operators to compete directly with Dublin Bus. “This would mean more bus routes for Dublin 15, such as new direct bus services from Littlepace, Ongar, Clonsilla and Castleknock,” she claims.

In a re-opening of the former left / right divide between Fine Gael and the Labour Party she accuses her former general election allies of having an “old-fashioned anti-business opposition to deregulation.” According to the councillor, “Luas is operated by a private company and it works very well. Dublin 15 residents want more buses and don’t really mind who operates them.”

Community Voice, Media House, Church Avenue, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15
Phone +353 1 822 1432 -  Fax +353 1 640 4444
info@communityvoice.ie

All content and images are © Perceptions[Publicity and Event Management] Limited. All rights reserved
Site developed by Vincent Cahill