Sir, - As residents of North Great George's Street we would like to add our voice to what has so far been a very one-sided debate in favour of the erection of a gate at the Parnell Street end (The Irish Times, March 23rd). We are totally opposed to this proposal.
Senator David Norris highlights the problem of "joy-riding" on the street. Clearly, other, less obtrusive traffic-calming measures could be used to discourage speeding on the street.
In a street that provides public access to Parnell Square, Gardiner Street and O'Connell Street, the erection of a gate would cause major traffic disruption. Diverted traffic would have to use the parallel street, Hill Street, as an alternative route. Hill Street is home to many children and increased traffic there could result in accidents. Most city centre residents would agree that traffic-calming is badly needed as part of an overall plan for the city's development. However, taking one street in isolation without considering the impact for the surrounding area is not the way forward.
Finally, Senator Norris's reference to the presence of a gate on the street in "1756 or whenever" is misleading. Once the street had been residentially developed there was never a gate to close it off. Do we really want "gated communities" in the city centre in the year 2000? - Yours, etc.,
Ruth O'Dea, Dirk Huttermann, North Great George's Street, Dublin 1.