Even though some areas of Temple Bar have been cobbled since the 17th century, An Taisce said it had decided to make a formal complaint about the surface.

"We just don't think the cobblestones have been successful, " said spokesman Kevin Duff. "They're not comfortable to walk on and they're very difficult to cycle on. As cars are gradually taken out of the city centre, more streets are going to need to be cyclefriendly. If the city council is serious about creating a pedestrian-, cyclist- and public transport-focused city core, they need to think about what kind of street surfaces they are putting down, and not just put down the same one as 15 years ago. It should be relevant to 2007."

Duff said An Taisce had no objection to cobblestones if they were easy to navigate.

"They need to be much more tightly laid, rather than the ones in Temple Bar which have big gaps in between them" he said. "When Temple Bar was first developed, everyone thought that the cobblestones looked lovely, and they do look pretty. But they are just not practical."

An Taisce's objections are seconded in the Urban Framework Plan 2004 for Temple Bar, compiled by Howley Harrington Architects, which suggests "the existing cobbles should be relaid to a tighter, smoother pattern to make them more user-friendly for pedestrians, wheelchairs and buggies".

A council spokeswoman said the Dublin City Development Plan 2005-2011 stated cobblestones should be maintained, restored and introduced in all the streets in Temple Bar.

"They've always been in the older area of the city, and that's what's in the plan for the future, " she said. "Anyone could have objected to the development plan when it was being put together, and all objections would have been considered."