'It's too late to remove Convent Road from Navan cycleway plan now'

A BID to remove the Convent Road from the new Navan Cycle Pedestrian way, was shot down at a meeting of Navan Municipal District last week, when it was pointed out it was currently going through a legal statutory process.
Cllr Tommy Reilly had proposed that the council remove the Convent Road area from the proposed scheme, because of the area’s historical significance.
There has been fierce opposition locally to plans to fell 22 trees and demolish and relocate 300 metres of old stone walls near the 15th century Athlumney Castle, as part of the plan.

 

“I am not at all happy that the Convent Road is included in this plan. There are a lot of historic sites on the Convent Road and it has one of the oldest cemeteries in the country.
“I propose the Convent Road part of the plan be removed,” he said.
Cllr Wayne Forde seconded his proposal and said he had been speaking to numerous residents of the area.
“They don’t want cycle lanes, we have to listen to the people of Athlumney and they don’t want it.
“We have to protect the 22 oldest trees in Navan. There are tombs the whole way from the graveyard to the Convent. If we interfere with the wall, we will interfere with the tombs,” said Cllr Forde.

Director of services, Kevin Stewart, said the proposal is currently in a legal statutory process, which has to take its course.
“A report will come to you and you will have a chance to vote on it,” he said.
Cllr Sinead Burke said it was a live planning application and she was wary of saying anything at this moment.
She said the report due to be brought before the council, could come up with good alternatives.
“The last thing we want is for the report to come up with a good compromise and then we are faced with a legal challenge because we have had this discussion now.”
Cllr Padraig Fitzsimons said he’d a lot to say on the matter and predicted the meeting, at which the report is presented, should be an interesting one.
Cllr Francis Deane said there was a process in place.

 

Special
“There is something very special about Athlumney and I have a close association with it, but we have to respect the process.” 
Cllr Edward Fennessy said careful consideration needed to be given to the preservation of the heritage of the area, but he also acknowledged there is a process in place.
The Mayor of Navan, Cllr Jim Holloway said this was a classic case of where you have to take a balanced view.
“We have to have a transport plan for the town and then there is the competing interest of heritage.
“The key thing is report on the submissions, then we will see how we can reconcile all of these,” he said.