Navan businessman kicks off campaign

A crowd of more than 250 supporters and friends attended the launch of the Francis Deane"s election campaign in Navan Rugby Club on Friday. Mr Deane is standing as an independent candidate for Meath County Council and Navan Town Council. The launch was hosted by broadcaster, PJ Nolan and Jack Davis, former managing director of the Meath Chronicle, spoke of Mr Deane"s work on behalf of the business community in the town over the years. Margot Davis told the gathering of his support for numerous charities over the years and said that he had just last week presented Meath Mental Health Association with a cheque for €2,000, the proceeds of a fashion show he organised with Caroline Hogan. Mr Deane told of his plans for the Navan area and called for free car parking for people working in the town. He also called for free off-street parking for shoppers on Saturdays to help stimulate business in Navan. He spoke of the need for all rural roads to be repaired and maintained and called on the National Roads Authority (NRA) to repair damage done to local roads during the construction of the M3. The independent candidate said he wanted to see sheltered bus stops at all major junctions on the N3 and N4 and wanted the accident and emergency unit at Our Lady"s Hospital in Navan retained and improved. He also called on Meath County Council to do everything in its power to stop EirGrid erecting pylons and overhead power lines through the county. 'If they can put them under the sea from England, why not underground to Cavan?' he asked.