Dubliners are raging as the city council halt the pedestrianisation on Capel and Parliament Street.
The streets were transformed from car-heavy streets to ones where the public could sit and enjoy the sun.
The successful trial was originally meant to take place for six weeks. It was then announced that it would be extended another six weeks, then another two.
And during these weeks, more than 300,000 people experienced the traffic-free streets and this weekend is the final scheduled weekend of the trial.
Summer 2021 mostly took place outdoors and this pedestrianisation of two main thoroughfares in the city centre provided welcome relief for local businesses.
But Dubliners took to Twitter to express their rage as they want this trial to become a permanent change.
Panti Bliss tweeted: “This is absolutely enraging. We were told that the pedestrianisation was a 6 week trial. It was HUGELY successful. Then it was bizarrely announced the "trial" was being extended another 6 weeks. Then another 2 ALL HUGELY SUCCESSFUL And now this?!”
Another said: “Firstly, extend it for Sept, and more importantly, make it permanent please.”
Someone asked: “Why end it if it was so popular?”
A user said: “Don't end it! Make the change permanent. We need to get serious about creating a people-friendly car-free city centre. Now is the time to do it!”
Another tweeted: “Why are you giving this street back to cars 24/7? This isn't city recovery. It's the city being choked by exhaust fumes, people crammed onto pavements, businesses just starting to bounce back having all that custom taken away. All just to placate drivers.”
The project was carried out by the city's recovery task force which was set up in light of the pandemic to support businesses and outdoor dining.
Businesses on the streets were very vocal about increasing the space for pedestrians and outdoor dining.
And a number of restaurants and bars were able to take advantage of the pedestrianisation with the designated spaces on the street for seating.
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