Navan cllrs vote to keep Townspark pedestrian link open

The controversial pedestrian link between Townspark and Beechmount Estates in Navan is to remain open following a decision taken at last week's meeting of Navan Town Council not to extinguish the public right of way between the two estates. Councillors remain divided on the issue. With four votes in favour and four against closing the right of way, it was down to the casting vote of Mayor Joe Reilly who voted in favour of keeping it open. Residents of Beechmount who live close to the access wanted it closed because of persistent problems with antisocial behaviour. However, the majority of residents in Townspark wanted to keep a link between the two estates to allow access to Beechmount Shopping Centre. A second pedestrian link between Townspark and Beechmount Avenue was extinguished last October and, at that meeting, councillors had resolved to commence the process of extinguishing the other right of way between Townspark and Beechmount Avenue/Court. The proposal to close the right of way went on public display and, of the submissions received, 85 were in favour of leaving the access point open, while 23 were in favour of closing it. Mayor Joe Reilly said they had a long debate about the issue at their last meeting and deferred making a decision. "It was raised at the Joint Policing Committee and now it's decision time," he said. Cllr Anton McCabe said the issue had been refered to the Joint Policing Committee but there was a conflict and difference of opinion. Cllr McCabe said that his own opinion was that it should be left open but asked if there was an option to hold an oral hearing. Town Clerk Shane Donnelly said there was. Cllr Padraig Fitzsimons said: "We have gone through this all before. Windows are being broken, houses damaged, cars danced upon, families threatened, defecation on people's doorways, tyres slashed. If you were that person living in that house, what would you want?" He said that, given the situation, they couldn't leave it open. Cllr Jim Holloway said it was a difficult decision, not only for councillors but also for the residents. Cllrs Jim Holloway and Suzanne Jamal also had a motion tabled later on the agenda that, in the event of the pedestrian access remaining open, that they consult with interested parties on a resdesign for the gap. Cllr Jamal said she was not in favour of the access remaining open and the motion was put down in case the vote was against extinguishing the right of way. Cllr Phil Brennan said: "The fact is that a few people are being intimidated and it is time we stood up for the minority who are suffering as a result of the gap and close it." Cllr Francis Deane remarked: "It is a very difficult decision to make. A lot of older people use it for shopping. What really annoys me is that there are only a few people causing this trouble. I know the decision has to be made. I would like to see a redesign of the gap." The matter went to a vote and Cllrs Joe Reilly, Francis Deane, Anton McCabe and Jim Holloway voted in favour of keeping the access open, while Cllrs Shane Cassells, Padraig Fitzsimons, Phil Brennan and Suzanne Jamal wanted to extinguish the right of way. The motion by Cllrs Holloway and Jamal to consult with residents and interested parties about "redesigning the layout of the pedestrian way so that it could function properly and, at the same time contribute to the safety and security of the residents who reside adjacent to it" was passed. Cllr Holloway said after the meeting that, while the decision was taken to leave the right of way in place, as a public representative, he was not "finished with this issue" and, for this reason, the motion was put down for a programme of remedial works so that the right of way is designed to most effectively contribute to the security of residents in the immediate vicinity. "What has now to happen is that all agencies, statutory bodies and the community must be engaged to end the scourge of antisocial behaviour that is associated with such gaps. Not to do so will have consequences," he added. Beechmount Residents' Association chairperson Ray Callan, who attended the meeting, said afterwards they were disappointed that the gap is remaining open but residents would still engage with the local authorities to find a solution to end the antisocial behaviour. "The ideal situation was to close it but we will work with the council to find other solutions in the interest of residents in the estate and we will also engage with the Townspark residents' committee so that a solution is found that is suitable to both sides - not just the residents close to the gap but those in Beechdale and Townspark who are affected by the same antisocial behaviour."