Upgrade works of Ramparts welcomed

Work to upgrade the Ramparts Walk from Navan to Stackallen is currently underway.

Sections of the path from Navan Ramparts Car Park towards the Bridge of the Boyne at Ardmulchan have been temporarily closed.

The work which began two weeks ago is expected to take up to six weeks and will include a new surface, the removal of overgrown vegetation and providing culverts to help alleviate and prevent flooding.

To prevent vehicular access to the path, which was the towpath of the old Boyne Navigation, a number of gates which are accessible to wheelchairs and large buggies have been installed,

The work also see the installation of benches and signage along the route.

The work was warmly welcomed by Cllr Padraig Fitzsimons, who said a lot of people had spoken to him at how delighted they were with it.

“The Rampart is a great amenity and everything that is done there will help make Navan more attractive to visitors.

“It is somewhere nice to go for a walk, where people can use their leisure time and it is a great place for elderly people to walk safely.”

Cllr Fitzsimons said that some people expressed concern at the gates, but he said it was to prevent cars and other vehicles accessing it.

“It will be accessible to people in wheelchairs and to people with large buggies,” he said.

“It will be a fantastic facility for Navan.”

Cllr Tommy Reilly has also welcomed the work, which he said would be a major benefit to people using the walkway.

“They are doing a nice job and the path will be about two metres wide.

“A major job was done on the Ramparts 20 years ago but they didn't use the right type of stone and was in bad repair a short time later,” he recalled

The Ramparts is a popular local amenity and runs for a total of 8km out to the Broadboyne/Stackallen Bridge, and will form part of the Boyne Greenway, which is currently in planning.