Architects' closure won't affect Navan 'Smarter Travel' bid

The news that a top architectural firm involved in Navan's bid to win the Smarter Travel Competition has gone bust is not expected to impact on the local town council's bid in the competition. Navan was one of 11 areas shortlisted to progress to stage two of the Department of Transport's Smarter Travel Competition and is competing to win funding of up to €50 million over five years that would transform Navan into a world-class SmarterTravel demonstration zone. One of Ireland's best-known architectural companies, Murray " Laoire, was involved in faciltiating Meath County Council's Smarter Travel bid. However, it was announced within the last week-and-a-half that the company, which employs 127 staff in offices in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, in Europe and the Middle East, had gone into liquidation. Its best-known buildings include the new Thomond Park Stadium in Limerick and the CIT Cork School of Music. In a statement, the company said it would do all it could to minimise the impact of its collapse on creditors, clients and staff and said it is committed to an orderly winding down of its affairs. Navan Town Clerk Shane Donnelly said that the development would not affect Navan's Smarter Travel bid, as its bid was being led by an in-house team at the council and that Murray " Laoire's role was in facilitating that. "It is not going to affect the delivery or roll-out of our bid and is not going to stop us in our bid. We are anxious to hold onto the team at Murray " Laoire who have been facilitating us with various things. We are still in constant contact. We are hopeful that we will continue working with Murray " Laoire until we make our bid at the end of April," said Mr Donnelly. He explained that the firm was involved in putting together the Navan Smarter Travel newsletter, the website and the sharing of ideas and added that the company has been of great assistance as they are experts "in putting people first and getting the community involved". The Smarter Travel Competition was established to deliver outstanding and innovative examples of sustainable travel in urban and rural areas, to support the Government's Sustainable Travel Policy SmarterTravel. SmarterTravel aims to help make the change from cars to healthier and more sustainable ways of commuting. Whether it's biking to school, a train to work, a bus to retail centres, carpooling to events or walking to visit friends and relatives, Smarter Travel is about getting out of the car and utilising other more sustainable methods of travel. As part of its bid, Navan Town Council is hoping to set the record for Ireland's longest walking bus on 26th April. Pupils from local schools will meet at the Fair Green, Navan, and will walk to school from there. Bike clinics are also being held in schools to give bicycles an 'MOT' and show students how to check their bicycles themselves. There will also be a 'do it yourself' day during employers' week later this month where employees will be encouraged to walk, cycle or use public transport to get to work, or to park their car on the outskirts of the town and walk to work. As part of the bid, it is important that local people get involved and have their say on sustainable transport in the town, says the town council. There will be lots of sustainable travel-themed prizes to be won, including bicycles, running buggy, scooters and an iPod shuffle, by visiting www.navansmartertravel.ie/your-say.html and completing the questionaire. For more information on Smarter Travel, see www.navansmartertravel.ie