Issue of safe pedestrian link between south Drogheda housing estates raised

Calls have been made for urgent action to address a long-running pedestrian safety issue affecting residents in south Drogheda.

The issue was raised at the May meeting of Laytown-Bettystown Municipal District, where councillors discussed the lack of a safe pedestrian link between the Avourwen, Lagavooren Manor and Rosevale housing estates.

The motion, submitted by Independent Cllr Stephen McKee, called on Meath County Council to provide a safe and accessible linkage between the estates “in order to improve permeability links between these estates and the wider area”.

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr McKee said residents had been raising concerns for years about informal muddy pathways currently being used by pedestrians, including schoolchildren and parents with buggies.

“There’s big issues there between Avourwen, Lagavooren and Rosevale in terms of providing safe access for people and it needs to be addressed as soon as possible,” he said.

“We can’t have another winter where people are going through a muddy gap with buggies and children trying to get through safely.”

Cllr McKee said residents would continue to use the shortest available route between estates regardless of whether formal infrastructure existed.

“The reality is the gaps are there and people will use the shortest route possible to get where they need to go,” he said. He argued that a properly designed and lit pathway would improve safety while also supporting active travel and better connectivity in the wider area.

“If it was done properly, tidied up, with a proper path and lighting put in, it would benefit everybody,” he said.

The motion was seconded by Fine Gael Cllr Sharon Tolan, who described the proposal as “a no brainer”.

“The very fact that people are using a muddy track means people are trying to walk instead of using their cars,” she said.

“We should not have to wait for an area-based transport assessment or local transport plan for Drogheda. This is a simple solution.”

Independent Cllr Carol Lennon said some residents in Lagavooren Manor had concerns around anti-social behaviour and privacy, but were not opposed to a pathway in principle.

“The residents are not objecting in totality,” she said. “But they want a seat at the table and they want consideration given to the people who live directly beside the proposed route.”

Sinn Féin Cllr Maria White said the issue highlighted wider failings in planning and infrastructure delivery across south Drogheda.

“What we see here is the result of bad planning,” she said.

“This entire area of south Drogheda is completely without infrastructure, services and community facilities.”

Cllr White said communities were becoming frustrated by delays and repeated obstacles surrounding what should be a straightforward project.

“It’s a footpath we’re talking about here, not the Great Wall of China,” she said.

She also said concerns around anti-social behaviour and community safety needed to be taken seriously.

Fine Gael Cllr Paddy Meade supporting the motion said many people avoided using the informal paths during darker winter evenings because they did not feel safe.

Responding at the end of the debate, Cllr McKee said he understood the concerns being raised by nearby residents but insisted the issue needed to be resolved in a way that benefited the wider community.

“This motion isn’t intended to be divisive at all,” he said.

“There is an infrastructure deficit in this area and this is about trying to bridge that with a couple of simple footpaths and public lighting.”

He added that proper pedestrian connections should have been included when the estates were originally planned.

In its written response, Meath County Council said Lagavooren Manor is included in an Area Based Transport Assessment currently being carried out for Drogheda in conjunction with the National Transport Authority.

The council said a draft Local Transport Plan for Drogheda is expected to be ready for public consultation later this year and noted that recommendations arising from the transport assessment may inform future funding applications and infrastructure works.

The issue has been raised repeatedly by residents in recent weeks with concerns also highlighted following a recent visit to Avourwen by Tánaiste Simon Harris and Minister of State John Cummins.

- Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme