Call to defend east Meath from Louth 'land grab'

East Meath councillors are planning to fight back this Friday in a desperate bid to stop what they are calling “a land grab of Meath” when the Drogheda Boundary Review holds hearings over proposals to extend Louth’s influence into this county.
Politicians in Louth, including Minister Ged Nash and TD Fergus O’Dowd, are pushing hard to take in more of Meath’s land and interests on both sides of the county boundary and are gearing up for what is being billed as 'Battle of the Boyne. Mark II'.
Council authorities and political interests in Meath realise they are on the back foot in the argument over expansion, with Louth’s campaign having been underway for the past year. Strong backing for an extension of its territory into Meath has been given by Drogheda Chamber of Commerce which says the town has no future without expansion.
A three-man committee set up by Environment Minister Alan Kelly will take soundings from Meath councillors in the Boyne Valley Hotel, Drogheda, this Friday.
Much of the opposition to the proposal has come from the Laytown-Bettystown Municipal Council which has seven members but council cathaoirleach Cllr Brian Fitzgerald has issued a clarion call this week to all 40 members of the council to get “dug in” and defend Meath’s territory.
Fianna Fail Cllr Wayne Harding said that what was being proposed was “essentially a land grab”.