Submission on the Draft Donegal Town Local Transport Plan (LTP)
- Feb 6
- 8 min read
Updated: Feb 7
Donegal County Council recently published a Draft copy of the Donegal Town Local Transport Plan (LTP) which is a variation to the Donegal County Development Plan. In addition, a revised copy of the Donegal Town Local Area Plan (DT LAP) was also published. Both plans close for public consultation next Friday, February 13th, 2026.
Our feedback covers 6 main areas in respect of the Local Transport Plan (LTP)
1. Statutory Role and Timing
2. Bus Parking at the Quay
3. Future Zoning and Trip Generation
4. Local Distributor Roads
5. Structured Parking
6. One-Way Traffic System
We are asking the public to provide their written feedback on both plans but in particular the Donegal Town Local Transport Plan (LTP), which includes proposals which could impact the way Donegal Town develops in the coming years and it is important that the public play an active role in that development. Below is the feedback the NWDP committee propose sharing with Donegal County Council on the LTP plan (only). Feedback on the Donegal Town Local Area Plan will be submitted separately.
Link to Local Transport Plan (LTP) for Donegal Town
Link to Local Area Plan for Donegal Town
Link to Consultation Portal For Feedback Submission - Deadline Friday February 13th, 2026
Submission on the Draft Donegal Town Local Transport Plan (LTP)
We would first like to commend Donegal County Council and the National Transport Authority on the preparation of the Draft Local Transport Plan ("LTP") for Donegal Town. The quality of the baseline assessment, the active travel proposals, and the clear focus on aligning with national sustainability goals is greatly appreciated. The process undertaken is evidence-led, and the structure of the plan demonstrates a strong awareness of the town's strengths, constraints, and evolving needs.
In particular, we welcome:
The thoughtful integration of active travel infrastructure, including key school zones and enhanced pedestrian permeability;
The focus on junction upgrades and safer crossings, which will have an immediate benefit for vulnerable road users;
The recognition of the need to rebalance space at The Diamond
The use of the Avoid–Shift–Improve framework, showing clear alignment with the Climate Action Plan and national transport priorities.
We see this LTP as a significant opportunity to deliver tangible improvements for Donegal Town, and our feedback is offered in the spirit of collaboration, with the goal of enhancing the final version before its adoption and ensuring it enjoys wide community confidence.
1. Statutory Role and Timing
The Draft LTP is referenced in the Proposed Variation to the County Development Plan, but hasn't undergone the same two-phase consultation process as the variation to the Donegal Town Local Area Plan (LAP). The LAP benefited from an initial non-statutory public engagement process before its draft publication, whereas the LTP was produced subsequently and is now out for comment for the first time.
We understand that policies of the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy calls for integration of transport measures into the area planning process, and we fully support this approach. However, given that the LTP was developed after the LAP's initial round of feedback, we respectfully suggest:
Either the LTP be retained as a standalone non-statutory strategy, or
A further round of public engagement be held on a revised version, allowing time for community feedback to be reflected in any final version considered for statutory inclusion.
This will ensure the LTP is on equal footing, procedurally, with other aspects of the Development Plan, and helps avoid future ambiguity about its legal standing in development management.
2. Bus Parking at the Quay
We understand and support the intention to relocate the bus stop away from The Diamond, and we note the proposal to develop a new bus interchange at Quay Street. It is our observation, that the Draft LTP does not appear to set-out clear operational or design details for this hub, including how existing layover demands, particularly by private and scheduled coaches, will be managed in the future.
At present, the quay is a multifunctional complex public space providing public carparking, access to the Old Abbey (tourism and heritage monument), graveyard, camper van parking, water sports and leisure (Water bus and office), tourist office and is an important local amenity and walkway. Many of its current usages are already conflicting. It is also a flood zone and floods regularly. The identification of this area as a bus interchange without any substantial consultation with statutory and local stakeholders (local Churches, Fáilte Éireann, Marine, OPW to name a few) would be premature. A study has been initiated by Donegal County Council to look at the complete removal of parking at this space with a view to prioritising its amenity value with a board walk link behind the Hotels and a second bridge across the Eske thus unlocking the long term public realm value of the Quayside. It is vital that there is a singular vision by Donegal County Council on how the Quay area is to be developed with a goal to maximise its benefits both functionally and ecstatically. This vision of the Quay as a vibrant waterfront public park would be completely incompatible with a bus interchange. In our view the Quay in Donegal Town represents the highest value public space in the town. It is iconic and an integral part of Donegal Town's history, urban fabric, also heavily featured in the Lawrence collection of historical photographs and has a long maritime history which needs to be preserved. It is visually and environmentally a sensitive area, the views from the Water bus as it enters the Quay are cherished by tourists and locals alike.
In this regard, we believe the plan should not seek to locate a bus interchange in this area because of:
Potential space and circulation impacts
Lack of any detail of what a bus interchange would look like in terms of layout, footprint and visual impact on this area.
Lack of meaningful consultations with statutory and local stakeholders
Failure to take into account flooding risks
Disregard for conflicts with long-term public realm aspirations for the waterfront
Lack of transparency regarding the impacts on the quantity of public parking spaces in the town
Lack of clarity regarding interim arrangements during interchange construction
We believe there are other more suitable sites around the town boundary which should be considered as alternative locations with clear pros and cons of each presented for public consultation. In this regard we would suggest the rear carpark behind the Diamond and behind the Garda Station. There is unused land in this location beside the Credit Union that could be used as a potential multi-storey carpark with a bus interchange incorporated on the ground floor. This site for example would present a much reduced visual impact and could potentially remove parking from the Quay area to free it up to unlock its public realm value as a vibrant waterfront area that prioritises pedestrian, leisure, tourism and waterside activities. Addressing the presence of buses on the Diamond has been an area of real concern and much debate for locals and businesses alike for many years and needs to be addressed comprehensively and with the views of the public addressed before any final decisions or conclusions are reached. We also feel the LTP would benefit from a clearer explanation of how bus operations will evolve over time given the growth projections for the town and the area more broadly, with focus given to peak tourism periods which creates additional parking pressures.
3. Future Zoning and Trip Generation
The plan references existing zoning under the Development Plan and LAP, but does not appear to include any specific assumptions or modelling of the additional travel demand associated with new residential or employment development (Business/Enterprise and Opportunity Sites).
Given the identification of over 970 new housing units across the New Residential and Opportunity Sites, and the expansion of business/enterprise zoning, we believe it would strengthen the plan to:
Include indicative trip generation estimates for key development zones
Map potential connections to the active travel and public transport network
Provide comment on whether the existing/proposed infrastructure is expected to be sufficient to absorb this additional demand
We note the plan's strong emphasis on active travel for short local trips, which we support. However, given that approximately 81% of commutes to the town originate from outside the study area, some level of baseline traffic forecasting would add clarity and help inform both infrastructure phasing and development assessment under the LAP.
4. Local Distributor Roads
There are a number of proposed local road connections that are referenced in planning discussions and submissions but not clearly addressed in the LTP. These include:
A potential link between Railway Park and S&R Motors/Near Hospital,
Two options for connecting Old Laghey Road to the Tech area
While we appreciate that the LTP prioritises sustainable transport first, it would be helpful for the plan to acknowledge these corridors and provide:
An indication of whether they were considered as part of the baseline
A view on how they might contribute to reducing pressure in the town centre
Any initial assessment of risks or constraints (e.g. topography, sightlines, land availability)
Such links may offer valuable options for future permeability, particularly in accommodating necessary vehicular access to expanding residential and employment areas while preserving the quality of the town centre.
5. Structured Parking
The Draft LTP discusses parking management and the review of bye-laws, which we support. However, it does not engage with the longer-term feasibility of a structured or multi-storey parking facility/s, which may become necessary as long-stay commuter and visitor parking grows alongside residential and economic development.
Given the current pattern of long-stay on-street parking (notably in The Diamond), and the challenges of congestion caused by circulating traffic, we believe the plan could benefit from:
A high-level structured parking feasibility assessment, using private and public land, and phased options
Integration with way-finding, EV charging, and pricing strategies
Alignment with goals to repurpose surface parking for more productive uses, such as repurposing the pier if it was an option as a public park area
We agree with the plan's direction to promote active travel first, but structured parking may still have a role to play in creating a more rational and more efficient parking environment.
6. One-Way System
The Draft LTP includes medium- and long-term options for reconfiguring traffic movement around The Diamond, including potential one-way systems. We understand the logic behind simplifying circulation and prioritising space for sustainable modes in this central area, and we welcome the Council's efforts to explore alternatives.
We respectfully suggest that no final determination be made on a one-way system until a more comprehensive picture emerges across the following related elements:
The operational plan and location for the new bus interchange
Clarity on bus layover and coach movements, especially during the tourism season
A better understanding of traffic volumes associated with new residential and enterprise zones
Consideration of key relief roads (e.g. Railway Park, Old Laghey Road connections)
An assessment of parking behaviour and search patterns (particularly if a structured facility is pursued)
The effectiveness, and public acceptance, of any one-way scheme will be deeply shaped by how these interconnected elements are resolved. Introducing a system prematurely could unintentionally divert traffic into residential areas, strain junctions, or reduce accessibility for certain user groups.
We suggest that the Council sequence any one-way implementation only after these wider considerations have been fully explored. Piloting the system may still be appropriate, but it should occur within the context of a town-wide traffic model that accounts for future development and modal shifts.
Lastly, we feel that many of the issues raised with respect to the one way system, at two public meetings held in 2023/2024 with Donegal County Council officials, have not been addressed satisfactory in this draft Local Transport Plan and further discussion on the issues raised warrants further consultation before any final conclusions are reached.
Conclusion
We welcome the opportunity to provide feedback at this stage and appreciate the Council's openness to collaboration. We are confident that with additions and clarifications, the LTP can serve as a strong framework for guiding investment and supporting the vision set out in the Development Plan.We look forward to continued engagement as the plans are refined and implemented, and offer our support for making Donegal Town a national leader in sustainable, integrated mobility.
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