Grieving families have declared their “loved ones can finally rest in peace” after controversial plans to put a cycle lane through a Dublin graveyard were dropped.
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council officially scrapped the proposal for Deansgrange Cemetery on Monday night after months of fierce backlash. The two-way cycle lane will now be placed along the western side of Deansgrange Road. But on-street parking will need to be removed to facilitate the bike lane.
Cork man Philip Lecane, whose wife Kate is buried in the graveyard, told The Irish Mirror: “I’m very happy and relieved and I’m glad that it’s all over. Our loved ones can finally rest in peace.” Council bosses revealed they had listened to more than 1,000 submissions on the proposal since it was announced last year.
Read more: Grieving relatives 'distraught' at cycle lane plans for Deansgrange Cemetery
When asked why he believed the plans were scrapped, Philip said: “I think they were very surprised by the level of the objections that they got. It was a very insensitive proposal from the get-go. Pressure from the media definitely helped too.”
Under the now-scrapped plans, council bosses had also proposed to lower the graveyard’s boundary wall - which sparked fears from families who believed this could disturb the final resting place of their relatives. The lowered boundary wall would have meant motorists and people walking outside would be able to look into the graveyard.
This would have also meant that the cemetery would have been open 24 hours a day. Rebekah Cornwell, who lost her grandmother Monica O’Byrne in April 2021, was also "delighted" the council had backed down.
She told us: “We were in touch with some of the councillors beforehand and they gave the impression that it wasn’t going to go ahead but until we actually saw the meeting you don’t really know.
“We are delighted and it’s just a huge relief. It was such a stressful time. We had such a good campaign in getting the word and everybody was just really against it.”
Speaking at Monday’s meeting, Leas Cathaoirleach Michael Clark said: “You have spoken and we have listened.”
A spokesperson for Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown told The Irish Mirror: "The post consultation report was presented to the Elected Members at the full Council Meeting. The recommendation from the Council Executive was to proceed with the majority of the scheme as proposed.
"At the meeting the Elected Members voted to amend the project to continue the two-way cycle track along the full length of Deansgrange Road. This means that it no longer needs to be progressed through the Cemetery."
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