Businesses on O'Connell Street in Dublin are to seek new proposals for legislation to control its use following Dublin City Council's rejection of bylaws proposed by Corporation officials. The Dublin City Centre Business Association said the failure of the proposed bylaws was a "collapse of the consultative process" between stakeholders on O'Connell Street, the local authority and politicians.
Mr Tom Coffey, chief executive of the business group, claimed the consultative group of traders and developers who initially asked for controlling legislation to be drafted, did not see the proposals before they went on public display.
"We didn't have any drafts and discussions. Maybe they were being over-enthusiastic on this occasion." He acknowledged the by-laws were "not acceptable to anyone" and would have benefited from further discussion before publication.
Dublin Corporation's O'Connell Street project said it "hasn't put any more thought" into alternative proposals to restrict access to O'Connell Street for marches and demonstrations.
Mr Ciaran McNamara, chairman of the project, said any future plans had been "put to one side" because of the public's hostile reaction, which culminated in a public protest outside City Hall during last week's council meeting. The by-laws were overwhelmingly rejected at that meeting.
The proposals required 31 days' notice of any group of more than six people parading on the capital's main street and a £2,000 deposit on groups of more than 50. It also demanded that groups of more than 300 should prove they had indemnity insurance of £3 million.
Lobby groups, unions and representative bodies insisted the restrictions would have made public marches and protests impossible.
Mr Coffey said the City Centre Business Association would look for an alternative. Traders wanted an "organised, civilised space that we can all use".
Business people will discuss the issue later this month at a meeting of the steering committee of the O'Connell Street Integrated Action Plan.
Mr Coffey said there was still a need for controls, as more people were now living in Dublin in higher densities.
He referred to the increased use of areas such as Smithfield for concerts and events and said there was a need for a law, "not to suppress people but to liberate people so we know how to behave ourselves. We have to gain people's trust and confidence, we need to explain to people how it will benefit them."
In a further move, Dublin Corporation and O'Connell Street stakeholders initiated plans at a meeting on Monday night to make O'Connell Street a special architectural and conservation area. The plan is designed to further protect listed buildings and control development as part of a concerted effort to improve the street.