Emmet square proposals people of birr dont want this

“The people of Birr don’t want this. End of story. It’s not acceptable to the people of Birr and that’s the bottom line.”
That’s according to former Offaly Person of the Year and prominent Birr business man Stephen Grant, who is among those spearheading a continued campaign against controversial plans to reconfigure Emmet Square.
A significant section of the town’s traders and commercial community, including Mr Grant, brought their fight against the plans to Tullamore on Monday by holding a major protest at council offices.
Over 200 people were present for the protest ahead of Monday’s meeting of Offaly County Council against plans they believe will badly impact on local traders.
Mr Grant said over 60 businesses closed for three hours to support the protest and 77 businesses have signed up to the opposition to the council plans.
Opponents say the Emmet Square plans will lead to a loss of parking spaces, which they estimate to be of the order of 50%, the end of direct access through the square to the main street and the diversion of traffic from Athlone and Tullamore away from the square via a circuitous route.
Earlier this month, the controversial proposals were formally approved when members of Birr Municipal District adopted the Emmet Square enhancement plan, albeit with slight modifications including the introduction of two-way traffic around Dooly’s Hotel, changes to a bus bay location and the provision of additional parking spaces.
However, at Monday’s meeting, Cllr Peter Ormond tabled a motion seeking the council to revoke a decision to give the go-ahead to the plans.
After seeking legal advice, the council ruled the motion was not in order. But protesters are adamant they will continue to seek the council not to proceed with the plans.
A special in-committee (private) meeting of the council is planned for October 7 to discuss the issue - and opponents are hopeful that a new motion not to proceed with the works will be forthcoming.
Mr Grant, founder of Grant Engineering, said: “The townspeople are at a loss to understand the council officials in Tullamore and councillors in general. What part of people saying 'No’ do they not understand?”
Mr Grant also owns Dooly’s Hotel and has voiced fears over the future of the iconic business if the plans proceed.
“I’d have very serious reservations about the viability of the hotel because a huge percentage of custom Dooly’s would do on any given day is from passing trade.”
Stating that Dooly’s is the oldest trading inn in the country, dating back to 1747, he said: “Dooly’s for me is more something for the town. I get nothing out of Dooly’s, it’s not a money matter. I want it for the town.”