Loss of direct local access
Residents, visitors and tradespeople lose the most direct route into and out of Kilpedder. A road that has served this community for generations would be closed to ordinary traffic.
Public Consultation Open
Stop the closure of Kilpedder’s local access.
Wicklow County Council is proposing to remove vehicle access through Kilpedder village under its N11 “Rat-Run” Road Safety Improvement Scheme. Residents can object — but only until 12 June 2026.
43Days
3Hours
33Mins
until 12 June 2026 deadline01 - What's Being Proposed
The scheme, in plain English.
Drawn directly from Wicklow County Council's Part 8 briefing for the N11 Kilpedder 'Rat-Run' Road Safety Improvement Scheme.
- 1
Restricts vehicle access through Kilpedder village to remove the so-called “rat-run” used during heavy N11 traffic.
- 2
Closes the L5046 Johnstown diverge and Willow Grove merge to general traffic (buses excepted).
- 3
Converts the existing one-way southbound local road into a northbound cycle route bypassing N11 Junction 11 and Junction 10.
- 4
Bus route is retained but altered, with a relocated bus stop from the Grove bar to a roundabout a 7 minute walk from the previous bus stop.
- 5
Council states the diversion adds a “1 to 2 minute reroute to Johnstown Avenue” via the Kilpedder roundabout.
- 6
Public consultation runs 29 April – 12 June 2026. All submissions must be received by 12 June 2026.
02 - Why We're Concerned
Reasons this scheme needs a rethink.
Better road safety and proper cycling infrastructure are welcome - but not at the cost of removing local access to a village. There is a better solution.
Longer journeys for daily life
School runs, deliveries, carers and commuters are forced onto a longer route via the Kilpedder roundabout. The council’s own “1–2 minute” estimate ignores compounding peak-hour congestion.
Emergency response times
Diverting all traffic adds critical minutes for ambulance, fire and Garda access into the village - minutes that matter in a real emergency.
Local businesses lose passing trade
Reduced footfall and vehicle access damages village shops, services and the long-term viability of small local businesses.
Traffic displaced, not solved
Closing the route pushes congestion onto the already-busy Kilpedder roundabout and N11 junctions, creating new safety problems instead of fixing the existing ones.
Cycle safety doesn’t require closure
A protected cycle lane can be delivered while retaining vehicle access. Removing local access entirely is a disproportionate response to a genuine cycling-safety need.
Inadequate consultation
The consultation window is short, the technical document covers a lot of details and requires clarity, and many affected households were not directly notified.
Bus passengers disadvantaged
The relocated bus stop and altered route inconveniences daily commuters - particularly older residents and those without a car.
Old Downs Road cut off from Delgany
For residents living on Old Downs Road, closing the J10/J11 link severs the direct route into our local village, Delgany - forcing a far longer journey for everyday trips to shops, schools and services.
03 - What the community wants
A fairer solution - not a closure.
We're not against road safety or better cycling infrastructure. We're asking the council to deliver both without removing local access. Here's what we want to see.
Keep the bus routes and bus stops where they are
Don’t move what’s already working for the people who rely on it every day.
Don’t close the road if it reduces local access
Any solution must preserve direct access for residents, visitors and local services.
Find a better alternative
Options such as bus-only access, time-based restrictions, or camera-enforced peak-hour limits for cars can address the rat-run without closing the road.
Put safety first - without punishing public transport users
Fixing the rat-run shouldn’t come at the cost of the people who depend on the bus to get to work, school and appointments.
Balance cycling improvements with local needs
The one-way road between J10 and J11 should not be closed at the request of a cycling group if the result is reduced access for local residents. Cycling improvements must be balanced against the needs of those who live, work and travel here every day.
04 - Local Councillors
Tell your local representatives.
Councillors in the Greystones Municipal District represent you on this scheme. A short, polite email or call carries real weight - they hear from very few constituents.
Orla Finn
Greystones Municipal District
Stephen Stokes
Greystones Municipal District
Lourda Scott
Greystones Municipal District
Mark Barry
Greystones Municipal District
Tom Fortune
Greystones Municipal District
Louise Fenelon Gaskin
Greystones Municipal District
05 - How to Object
Send your submission to Wicklow County Council.
All submissions must be received on or before 12 June 2026 and clearly marked ‘N11 Kilpedder Rat-Run Road Safety Improvement Scheme Part 8’.
1
Email your submission
Send to:
n11m11@wicklowcoco.ie2
Or submit online
3
Or by post / in person
Wicklow County Council, County Buildings, Whitegate, Station Road, Wicklow, Co. Wicklow, A67 FW96
Plans available Mon\u2013Fri (excl. bank holidays) until 28 May 2026.
Sample objection email
Edit the text below to add your name, address and any personal context, then copy or send it directly.
Cc: ofinn@wicklowcoco.ie,sstokes@wicklowcoco.ie,lscott@wicklowcoco.ie,mbarry@wicklowcoco.ie,tfortune@wicklowcoco.ie,lfenelongaskin@wicklowcoco.ie
Subject: N11 Kilpedder 'Rat-Run' Road Safety Improvement Scheme Part 8 - Submission
Tip: Personalising the email - even a single sentence about how the change affects you - makes your submission far more impactful.
Share with neighbours
The more residents who object, the stronger the message.
Send this site to your neighbours, family and local WhatsApp groups. Every submission counts - and councillors notice when many people speak up.