Council will press ahead with consultation plans on pedestrianisation proposal

One to one consultations with local businesses are taking place as plans continue for the pedestrianisation of Trimgate Street, last week's meeting of Navan Municipal Council heard.

It is expected the proposals for the changes will go through the planning process later this year.

Paul O'Brien told the meeting that extensive talks were taking place with businesses and it was intended to hold an information evening in the Newgrange Hotel, where people can go and view the proposals.

The preferred option for the pedestrianisation is to have access from the Kennedy Road end to a number of private car parks on the street.

Deliveries would access the street from the Kennedy Road end with no access from Brews Hill or Railway Street and special provisions would be made to allow the traditional route for funerals leaving St Mary's Church.

Cllr Tommy Reilly asked what issues were being raised with the council by the business people.

"Anti-social behaviour is being raised, but there will be the roll out of CCTV and enhanced public lighting. There is concern about how it will affect businesses as regards loading and unloading It is not something we will rush into. The proposal we go forward with needs to be something they are all happy with," said Mr O'Brien.

Cllr Padraig Fitzsimons asked about the private car parks on Trimgate street and was told they could be accessed from the Kennedy Road end of the street.

Director of Services, Martin Murray said there would be access for servicing of businesses and the historic nature of funerals would be respected.

Cllr Francis Deane asked if a newsletter could be circulated and was told that the businesses would get a newsletter along with a formal invitation to the information evening.

Cllr Alan Lawes asked if the extended CCTV scheme would be in place when the work is carried out. Mr Murray explained that it has gone through the planning process, and it was now up to the Garda Commissioner to sanction the scheme, but it would be the intention that it would be in place for pedestrianisation.

Mr O'Brien said that the pedestrianisation of Trimgate Street would be the last phase of the Navan 2030 scheme and work on the surrounding lanes would be completed before that.

At the September meeting of the Council, members were told the street could be pedestrianised as early as 2024.