Anger in Trim at plans to wipe out Navangate street parking

Plans for the upgrade of Navangate in Trim that will see 18 parking spaces and a loading bay reduced to just one parking space have been met by an angry reaction from local traders and residents. Navangate had been due to be reconstructed at the same time as High Street but controversy over the design of the street due to the lack of parking saw the plans shelved and only High Street proceeded. At that stage, the council was proposing three parking spaces and a loading bay for lower Navangate but two years on, the design is even more unpalatable to local businesses and residents with just a single parking space being provided for. As well as having a detrimental impact on local businesses there are several houses that do not have any off street parking or only have shared drive ways on the street. The council has proposed that they park at the cul-de-sac area near Dr Clancy's which is some distance away. It was also suggested that residents park in nearby housing estates, but residents of Griffin Park, which is the nearest estate, say they just about have enough parking for their residents as it is. A meeting of Navangate residents and traders took place on Tuesday evening of last week to discuss their concerns. Representatives of Griffin Park and local councillors were also invited. Plans for the reconstruction of Navangate are currently on public display at Trim Town Council and submissions can be made up to 14th September. Antonia Daly, who owns Antonia's bookshop said they all want to see the street done up and were prepared to lose some parking spaces but not that number. She said that there would be a huge knock on effect not just for businesses on Navangate but also High Street, as people will park on Navangate and walk to High Street, because it is difficult to get parking further down and also because the spaces are not long enough on High Street. Ms Daly said the plans include a wide footpath but that there is no need for such a wide footpath at Navangate as there is very little pedestrian traffic. "The residents on the left don't have driveways and on the other side there are shared driveways. The council have said to park at Griffin Park where have barely enough parking for residents, or the long term parking on the cul-de-sac near Dr Clancy's, but that is unacceptable for elderly people or people with young children to walk that far," she said. For businesses, Ms Daly said the parking spaces are invaluable to them and that a lot of customers like that she is on Navangate rather than further down the town, because they can get parking there. She also pointed out that there is no access to the Haggard Street Car Park from the High Street side which is something that they have campaigned for at the time. "Everybody on the street wants to see the street done up. The surface and paths are in a bad way, We don't want to put a stop to it. The last time there were so many objections, that they had to reassess it but now the new plan is worse that the first one. We all want the street done but there is no point in having a beautiful street if the traders are all closed down and it is impossible for anyone to sell their houses because there is nowhere to park," said Ms Daly. Peter Callaghan of the Stile Convenience Store said that while the street needs to be done up, his business would be "decimated" if the plans went ahead as they are. He said: "Our concern is the lack of parking. The street needs to be done up to the standard of the other streets to bring it in line with the rest of the town and the storm water needs doing and new footpaths are needed. Our only concern is the lack of parking on the new street. It will take away the fabric of the street if we don't have parking for the residents and businesses." Mr Callaghan explained that as a convenience store, they could have anything from 70 to 100 cars pulling each day form 6.30am to 10pm and that the stop time is very short. He said his business would be decimated, as would Antonia's book shop, if the plans went ahead. Mr Callaghan also echoed that a lot of the residents have no off street parking and other just have a shared driveway. He said he welcomed the announcement that the council has secured off street parking at the rear of Lenihans but said it is of no benefit to businesses or residents of Navangate as it is too far away. There is also a dentist located on the street and the former FBD office, while currently vacant, could be occupied again in the future. Kieran Walsh, chairperson of the local residents association, said that the plans mean residents would have to park 150 metres to 200 metres away in a cul-de-sac that is dark and unlit. He said there are a lot of elderly residents on the street and that it is too far for to carry groceries and for people with young children. "In the summer it is bad enough but in a winter like last year, residents would have to slip-slide up to their car. None of the residents are happy with the plan the way it is," said Mr Walsh. He said that they were open to spaces being removed as some of the narrower parts of the street but not that many. He pointed out that the footpath is already 1.9 metres wide on one side and two metres wide on the other and that there is no need for it to be made wider. "Elderly people are very worried, There are people who have been living there 40-50 years who have always had parking outside. They can't understand it," said Mr Walsh. "There will be empty retail units and derelict houses if the parking is removed. Houses will not be sold. We will have nice footpaths but empty houses and retail units," he said. Mr Walsh is encouraging not just residents to make submissions on the plans, but also local people who would miss the services on the street if they were no longer there. The plans for Navangate are currently on public display in the town council offices and submissions can be made up to 14th September.