Minimum Footpath Widths

johnmolloy554

Just need clarificiation on a footpath width issue. My sister has a cafe in an urban setting and has an outside dining area. The Council are demanding that 2.3m of footpath width be re-instated as Covid is over. It's 1.8m at the moment. Some places are her street have 1.2m of width as the path is narrower there.

What is the correct minimum width or is there department guidelines?

Zebra3

Not sure what the guidelines would be (and guidelines aren’t legally binding), but the footpath isn’t the property of any business, so not sure why any business owner would feel any entitlement.

KrisW1001

The absolute minimum width is 1.8 m, but in towns the recommended width would be 2.5 to 4.0 depending on footfall.

Source: Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets, section 4.3.1. (Sorry, on phone so can't add link, but you'll find it from that title).

johnmolloy554

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121519518#Comment_121519518

Not a sense of entitlement. She pays for a Table & Chairs licence which is revenue generation for the Council. The new width makes a few of her outside tables and chairs unworkable.

johnmolloy554

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121521424#Comment_121521424

Many thanks. That's exactly the answer she was looking for