The Green Party has given a guarded welcome to plans by Dublin City Council to refurbish the century old Fruit and Vegetable Gardens off Capel Street in Dublin City Centre.

Commenting on the publication by Dublin City Council Executive Manager Jim Keogan of a Presentation of the Proposed Retail Market for Dublin Mr Cuffe stated:

“I’m delighted that Dublin City Council is proposing a mixed use retail and wholesale market on the site, but the Council’s proposal for extensive surface car-parking is flawed and contradicts their own Development Plan. It is unacceptable that they wish to create a large surface car park on the site of the former Fish Market and the Daisy Market. The previous Historic Area Rejuvenation Plan (HARP) has proposed community, cultural and sports uses on what are now designated as car parking spaces in the current Plan. At a time of growing childhood obesity this proposal to further encourage car use and curtail sports uses is seriously flawed.

“Clearly, any market needs car parking, but there are already over 2,000 car parking spaces in six car parks within ten minutes walk of the Markets. More surface car parks is the last thing the city needs. The Markets are also right beside the Luas line. It is wrong to permanently designate the old Daisy Market and Fish Market right outside Greek Street Flats for car parking. Such a proposal would be unacceptable in more affluent parts of the city.

“The Dublin City Development Plan states:

“Extensive surface car parking to the front of developments, which detracts from the character of a centre and discourages pedestrians, should be avoided” p342 Dublin City Development Plan 2011-2017

“Any proposal for extra spending needs to be carefully evaluated. I visited the St. Georges Market in Belfast two weeks ago, and they have undertaken a ‘soft refurbishment’ that doesn’t involve large walls of glass or extensive new car parks. In addition the successful English Market in Cork didn’t require such an extensive overhaul. We need to learn lessons from Belfast and Cork before embarking on a flawed strategy.”