Pictured: Dublin Bikes rack.
In our last edition, NewFour featured a story on the proposal to erect three new advertising screens in the Dublin 4 area, as part of the Dublin Bikes rental scheme.
The plan was to install the giant double-sided panels, known as metropoles, at Donnybrook Road, Shelbourne Road, and Pembroke Road, which was directly in front of the U.S. Embassy.
The proposal was met with objections from environmental agency, An Taisce, who used words such as “hideous” and “grossly offensive” to describe the screens. Local councillors such as Dermot Lacey also objected, not generally to the construction of the metropoles, but more specifically to their suggested locations, stating that there were better and safer alternatives available. The location in Donnybrook is considered particularly troublesome as it will sit directly outside the fire station, and could prove a visual obstruction to passing traffic.
The debate further descended into a north-south divide with Cllr. Nial Ring of the North Central area suggesting that his counterparts south of the river wanted all of the bikes, but none of the advertising screens that help pay for the scheme. Statistics would seem to support his claim. given the south-east region has 47% of the stations, but just 25% of the metropoles.
Despite objections from local councillors, the proposal was passed in early November and construction will now go ahead, with one caveat. Dublin City Council did agree to investigate if an alternative site could be located on Merrion Road and swapped for the one in Donnybrook.
By Paul O’Rourke
