Councillors Vote to Close Swan Alley Due to Anti-social Behaviour
Drugs, attempted break-ins, illegal dumping and public urination are all to blame for the latest Dublin lane closure.
The plans to close off Swan Alley, just off Thomas Street and leading towards Hanbury Lane, come after local residents and property owners ask councillors and Dublin City Council to do something about the increasing anti-social behaviour that has been making their lives hell.
This will be the second Dublin laneway closed this year after Harbour Court, off Abbey Street, where large black steel gates were erected in January blocking the laneway running between Marlborough Street and Eden Quay.
Before any gates can be put in place, Dublin City Council need to consider an application for the extinguishment of the public right of way for Swan Alley. Representations and objections can still be made regarding this issue until 11:59 pm on Friday the 22nd of November.
While most will welcome the closure of the Dublin 8 lane, others have questioned if closing the laneway was the best option. Social Democrats councillor Jen Cummins has expressed her disappointment with the plans and suggested a more creative approach like a public art space would have been a better outcome.
Crampton Court, now known as Love Lane, in Temple Bar has been transformed into a beautiful, bright laneway with murals and street art adorning the walls in place of rubbish and profanity graffitied all over the place. It is now more associated with couples on romantic walks and people getting pictures for social media than anti-social behaviour.
While a final decision has yet to be made, it looks likely that Swan Alley will be closed to the public very soon.
