Busy Dublin street blocked off to traffic by anti-pollution and pro cycling activists
The popular shopping street will remain shut off to motorists until 7 this evening
Aengus O'HanlonGroup Head of News
Activists have closed off one of the city's busiest streets to make a case for a "car free" city.
Environmentalists have shut off South William Street in the city centre, where they have protesting against pollution caused by motor vehicles.
Activists from the Dublin Cycling Campaign along with the Dublin Commuter Coalition, the Irish Pedestrian Network and Extinction Rebellion say their demonstration aims to highlight the dominance of fuel-guzzling cars and trucks in our towns and cities.
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Several demonstrators wearing anti-pollution masks gathered on the popular southside street, which was blocked off between Chatham Row and Wicklow Street by protesters using makeshift barriers including tables and chairs.
The Dublin Cycling Network said in a tweet: "We've declared a Clean Air Zone on South William Street.
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"Come grab a breath of fresh air in Dublin city centre, up until 7pm today."
However, despite the lawful protest, AA Roadwatch reports that there are "no unusual delays around Dublin city centre".
A garda spokesperson told Dublin Live that its members "are present at this peaceful protest".
Cllr Noel Rock used the protest to call for the pedestrianisation of the popular shopping street, taking to social media to point out that "South William Street really is ripe to be pedestrianised".
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He added: "Would love to see this progressed and made official in near future."
Today's protest comes hot on the heals of a report from the Environmental Protection Agency that showed Dublin's air pollution regularly exceeds levels deemed safe by the European Union.
The report also warned that air levels were so poor in the city that they could pose a possible risk to the public's health.
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