Dublin's new Lord Mayor Hazel Chu has hit out at the sudden decision to immediately re-open the gates of the Phoenix Park that had been closed to drivers for months.
She said she wanted to know from Minister of State Patrick O'Donovan, who is now in charge of the Office of Public Works (OPW) which runs the park, how the decision was suddenly made, contrary to OPW statements of two weeks ago.
She intended writing to O'Donovan and the OPW to ask "what steps, advice, consultation was taken to open the Phoenix Park gates again to cars".
Chu added: "Last I checked it was called Phoenix Park not Phoenix Car Park."
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In recent months the gates of the park, except the two serving both ends of Chesterfield Ave, were closed to cars.
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The plan was intended to minimise the number of vehicles in the park and re-allocate space to cyclists and people out walking.
Two weeks ago the OPW said the closure of the gates had resulted in a "sea change" in the way people were enjoying the park and because of that it said it would not open the gates again on June 29th, as initially planned. Instead, further steps would be taken to "curb traffic".
However, after the intervention of O'Donovan it was announced last evening the gates would re-open again today, Friday; a sudden change of policy that has created anger among many people.
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