The “Save O’Connell Street Campaign” kicks off again this Saturday at 1 pm.

Valentine’s Day Style “Take Back O’Connell Street” Event
Saturday February 13th
1 pm
O’Connell Street

An artist’s rendering of O’Connell Street illustrates the simple potential of Sligo’s main street as a pedestrianised zone. This drawing by Sligo-based Leonie Cornelius epitomises the local spirit to create a proper centre for Sligo. Since summer last year, the public repeatedly indicated to the local Borough Council that O’Connell Street should not be de-pedestrianised. Now that traffic has been reintroduced in the most retrograde fashion – against the majority of the public’s will – a campaign continues to take the street back.

Everyone is welcome this upcoming Saturday event to take back O’Connell Street, Valentine’s Day Style. Organisers expect a cross-section of the local community, from business people to the arts community to members of the disabled community and Sligo families, educators and youth. The theme is “love Sligo, love the street,” and signs (see attached images) are already prepared for this event.

It is clear that the Sligo Borough Councillors’ November 2009 decision to re-introduce traffic on the pedestrianised street has not only been unpopular, it has outraged the local community. The Sligo County Council’s recent decision to deny renewing the Borough Council’s responsibility for Sligo roads is a clear message that the Borough Council are incapable of representing the Sligo public’s best interests on this matter. Further, the legitimacy of introducing traffic onto this street continues to be investigated – especially the means to which Sligo Borough Councillors passed this decision in opposition to all democratic process and consultation. The anti-democratic decision has eroded the public’s faith in their local representatives and has spurred the campaign to save this street. The Save O’Connell Street Campaign will continue until the re-instatement of the pedestrian zone is complete. An opening on weekends (as suggested by one Borough Councillor) does not suffice, campaigners clearly state.

Re-introducing traffic has and will continue to be bad for Sligo – whether by destroying the town’s vital centre, being a domino effect for job loss as businesses see less activity on O’Connell Street, or by making Sligo a less attractive destination for tourists. Further, since re-opening O’Connell Street to traffic in December 2009, the traffic in town has dramatically worsened as has the safety for pedestrians, families, cyclists and the disabled. The current design of O’Connell Street with dozens of steel bollards at the street’s edge has been identified as a dangerous “obstacle course” for disabled individuals, cyclists and ordinary pedestrians.

Campaigners welcome everyone to attend the “Save O’Connell Street” event this Saturday, 1 pm, on O’Connell Street.

Sligo Democracy