Plans for a two-lane bike path through a Dublin cemetery have been dropped following two years of controversy.

Some families had objected to the proposed cycleway – warning that the plans had caused them “untold sleepless nights”. 

On Monday night, the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council monthly meeting heard that more than 1,000 submissions had come in from the public on the plan.

Officials told councillors it had never been their intention to cause any harm to Deansgrange.

The plans have now been updated, with the new bike path to go around the cemetery instead of through it.

Senior DLRCC Engineer Conor Geraghty said officials listened to the concerns of the public.

“As part of these submissions, a reference was made to an online petition via Change.org,” he said

“So, the council has no control over Change.org and no way to validate the online petition but the sentiment of the petition is reflected in the submissions that were received.”

The new plan will see the cycleway routed along the western side of Deansgrange Road.

It will require the removal of some on-street parking in the area.