The Irish Times

Traffic should be banned from Westmoreland Street, one of Dublin's main thoroughfares, in order to boost the city's retail business in the face of growing competition from out-of-town centres, according to a report commissioned by Dublin City Council. The report by property consultants Bannon Commercial said that the creation of pedestrian-only zone on the street would make it easier for shoppers to move between the main retail centres on Grafton Street and Henry Street. Bannon listed the recommendation among a second strand of measures which should follow an initial series of efforts to stimulate the retail trade in the city centre. Dublin City Council has already adopted some of the first phase measures, including efforts to encourage developers to make "larger floorplate" units available on Grafton Street and surrounding streets. The council also wants to see more leisure and night-time activities available in the Henry Street.