Cllr Stephen Stokes at Hawkins Wood, Greystones.
Two of Greystones’ burgeoning housing estates – Glenheron and Hawkins Wood – are expected to secure new bus stops as part of the roll-out of new bus routes in north Wicklow.
Councillor Stephen Stokes, Cathaoirleach of the Greystones Municipal District, brought the motion before the April meeting of councillors and with recent news announced by the National Transport Authority that the new L2 route should be up and running this autumn, Wicklow County Council confirmed that stops are being planned for Glenheron and Hawkins Wood.
“These new stops are crucial to improve public transportation access, reduce traffic congestion, and enhance the quality of life for local residents. I am delighted that Glenheron and Hawkins Wood are expected to get bus stops,” Cllr Stokes said.
The L2 route will replace the 84 bus. It will run between Newcastle, Kilcoole, Charlesland, Greystones and Bray. The service will be hourly to/from Newcastle and every 30 minutes to/from Kilcoole.
Cllr Stokes added: “The L2 bus will be going that way, so it makes sense to have stops there too. This will benefit two large estates in Greystones. Additionally it will be useful for students of Greystones Community College, when the new school is built beside Hawkins Wood. There is also Greystones Community National School and a creche nearby so this is good news all round.”
Providing easy access to public transport is crucial, Cllr Stokes said, furthermore, he believes that long walks to bus stops pose a considerable inconvenience for residents, especially for those who rely on public transport for their daily commute, including students, elderly residents, and people with mobility challenges.
“Providing a closer bus service for Glenheron and Hawkins Wood is important. The closest local bus stops are currently Glenbrook Park (84) and Charlesland (184). Bringing a bus service closer will hopefully encourage more people to use public transport. The L3 service will also run every 30 minutes serving Archers Wood, Glenheron and western Charlesland. However reliability will be key to entice more passengers.”