Balmoral an ‘ideal spot’ to locate bike hub to access Boyne Valley Lakelands Greenway
A CALL for a bicycle hub at Balmoral in Navan which would cater for tourists and local alike has been made by Cllr John Duffy.
Cllr Duffy says that Navan needs to make the most of the very popular Boyne Valley to Lakelands Greenway and Balmoral would be an ideal place in which to develop a hub.
"There are links from Balmoral to the Greenway with the cycle lanes on the new LDR4 and with the new footbridge to the Park which is currently under construction.
"Balmoral would be an ideal place for a hub. There is already a coffee shop there and a bicycle shop. We could install bike parking and information signage.
"We really need to promote Navan as being part of the Greenway.
“We need signs at the start. I have been talking to people in Wilkinstown who have told me of people cycling to Navan and then just turning around and coming back because they didn't know which way to go to Navan. It would take very little to provide a decent hub in Balmoral, just a bike shelter and signage - the fact that there is already a coffee shop and bike shop there adds to it. There s loads of space there where the new footbridge is going.
"The new footbridge will be a great attraction and it is an ideal place for cycling facilities. I'm sure we could get buy in from some of the businesses already there," he said.
Blair Clinton who runs Chekhovs Coffee Shop thinks Balmoral is an ideal place for the hub.
"It is a great idea. As a cyclist myself I'd love to see a hub located there. It will create more employment. We are looking forward to the new footbridge, it will be great for us linking us to the park.
"The Greenway is a great facility, it is great for people getting together and it would be great to capitalise on it."
Dave Anderson of the Navan Cycling Initiative said that a bicycle hub at Balmoral would make a lot of sense with its links to the Greenway.
"The Greenway has been great for Navan. It is always busy, day or night, no matter what the weather.
"A hub at Balmoral would be linked to the Greenway by the new footbridge across the Blackwater into the park and by the cycle lanes on the new road," he said.
At a recent meeting of Navan Municipal Council, Cllr Duffy put forward a motion calling on the council to put in place directional signs at key locations from Navan Town to indicate the beginning of the Boyne Valley Greenway. He also called for to an Information Board at the start containing both historical references and references to available services.
He was told display panels have been installed for maps along the Greenway. The maps are currently in production, and they should be on display in this month. The installation of additional signage within Navan, directing people to the Greenway, will be explored in conjunction with the Navan MD and the Economic and Tourism Office.