Loss of wildlife habitats – hedgerows and wetlands: Hedgerows provide essential living space for many species of animal, plant and insects. As land is built upon with houses and roads, this habitat is lost and the biodiversity of the area is reduced.
Traffic congestion Dublin is the sixth most congested city in Europe. Traffic congestion is worse in Dublin than any other city in Ireland. This is due to both the high levels of car ownership created during the economic boom years of 1990 to 2007 and the availability of so many jobs in secondary and tertiary businesses in this core socio-economic region. The number of cars on Dublin roads increased by over 3,000 in 2010. Traffic congestion increases air pollution. Businesses lose money due to increased fuel costs and journey times.
Fig. 28 Air pollution levels rise due to traffic congestion.
Several factors account for the high levels of congestion in the Dublin city region •Commuter traffic: Urban sprawl in the Dublin city region means many workers travel into the city from towns up to 90 km away. This adds to congestion at peak times. Average speed in the city is expected to reduce to just 8 km/h due to congestion.
•Lack of public transport: While new transport developments have occurred – e.g. the Luas and Dublin Port Tunnel, quality bus corridors, cycle schemes and an increase of over 12% in the number of buses – people still find cars more convenient for transport. Dublin does not have the range of public transport facilities that a city of its size and population needs to tempt people away from using the car. The provision of a metro/underground rail system would reduce congestion in the future.
•Historic street plan: Like many cities Dublin streets were built to accommodate horse and carriages and not 40-tonne trucks. Many of the narrow and winding streets (e.g. Dame Street) are not wide enough for modern traffic and this has contributed to congestion. This has led to the ban on 5-axle lorries in the city centre.