Former bus driver says town bus service needs a stop on Navan's Flower Hill

The need for a bus stop on Navan's Flower Hill has been highlighted by a former bus driver who points out that the next stop on the town's bus service after Abbey Road is on the Rathaldron Road

"The town bus service goes up Flower Hill 13/14 hours a day," said Liam Mannion a former driver with Bus Eireann for 20 years.

"It makes sense to have a bus stop there. It is already a recognised bus stop for Sillan buses. The N2 goes up Flower Hilll but the first stop after leaving town is on the Rathaldron Road. There was a time when the service was hail and ride, but that is no longer the case. The 190 Trim to Drogheda also goes up Flower Hill.

"We are trying to encourage people not to bring their cars into town, but this doesn't encourage people to take the bus. Putting a bus stop on Flower Hill would increase the numbers using the service," he said.

Cllr Edward Fennessy called on the council to request the NTA to provide a bus stop on Flowerhill opposite the Gough’s Plant Hire business at a recent meeting of Navan Municipal Council.

"Or if this is not feasible, to provide a bus stop at Abbeylands near the planned ‘Age Friendly’ development that will be constructed there over the next year.”

He was told the responsibility for the provision of bus services, including bus routes and bus stop infrastructure, was a matter for the relevant bus operators and the National Transport Authority (NTA) .

Following discussions with the NTA on the Bus Stop Enhancement Programme priorities for County Meath, councillors received a list of the stops and shelters that the Council intended to advance in 2025 and beyond

The request for a bus stop and shelter to be provided on Flower Hill, Navan is not on the list.

Cllr Fennessy was advised to raise the matter directly with the NTA.

Cllr Fennessy said the wider Flower Hill area will be completely transformed over the next few years. "Two new residential developments are almost ready for families to move into. And there are roughly 300 existing residential properties in the area.

"The council are also about to start an Age Friendly development at Abbeylands and residential properties will also be delivered during the Flower Hill Regeneration Project.

"A population growth spurt is inevitable and we need to provide the necessary infrastructure to serve the local community.

"Flowerhill already has an existing bus service operating in the area. Sillan tours provide a service to local students travelling to college in Dublin.

"Connecting Flower Hill with the local bus network wouldn't be too difficult to achieve. There is a tailor made space opposite Gough's where a bus stop could be installed. Rolling this out would require a small change to the local bus route.

"If a small change to the local bus route is not something the NTA are willing to consider, the provision of a bus stop on the existing route at Abbeylands, has to be something they can deliver for local families.

"Abbeylands has multiple locations that could serve this purpose and I will be asking the NTA to give both options very serious consideration based on population growth, public transport need and community demand," he said.