Navan loses out on €23m Smarter Travel funding

Navan's failure to secure a share of €23 million Smarter Travel sustainable transport initiative funding has caused bitter disappointment in the town, which spent €80,000 on its bid for the competition. Navan Town Council learned this week that its bid was unsuccessful and the towns of Westport, Limerick and Dungarvan will now share the €23 million prize over a five-year period on sustainable travel iniatives. The entire communiy in Navan had got behind the Smarter Travel bid which was submitted in April 2010, and a record was set by local primary school's for Ireland's longest 'walking bus'. Navan was one of 11 towns shortlisted under the National Competition for Smarter Travel funding. Funding for the programme initially was €50m, but due to the economic climate, this was reduced to €23m. The Mayor of Navan, Cllr Anton McCabe, expressed his disappointment with the announcement that Navan was not included in the programme. "We made a very detailed bid and our town clerk, Shane Donnelly, and his staff put all their energy into the bid. "Although we are disappointed, Navan Town Council will continue to develop our town to make it a magnet for investment in the future," he said.