ANALYSIS: Will €12m will help to promote Navan as the county town?

The planned €12 million investment which will transform the streetscape and traffic flow of central Navan has moved a step nearer as councillors have voted to push ahead with the planning process.

The scheme which will see huge changes to traffic in Navan will now be part of a public consultation process as part of the planning process.
The next three to four years will see major changes to the streets and lanes of the town, including bus bays on either side of a widened Kennedy Road, as well as a large bus shelter and ticket kiosk on the plaza side of the street. A park and ride facility will be provided on the Kells Road.

Central Navan will be transformed into a pedestrian and cycle-friendly zone with a massive cash injection of €12 million substantially funded by the National Transport Authority (NTA).
The proposals will see the loss of 28 of the towns 3000 parking spaces.
The plan also provides for the reversal of traffic flow on Ludlow Street, with buses coming into the town from the Dublin direction up the street towards Market Square rather than the current one-way traffic flow away from Market Square. Buses, taxis and cyclists coming up Ludlow Street into Market Square will be allowed turn left at The Bull sculpture and up towards Kennedy Road, but cars will have to continue straight onto Watergate Street.
While there are no plans for the pedestrianisation of Trimgate Street, there will be extensive widening of footpaths throughout the town and refurbishment of all the streets, including paved areas replacing tarmac and landscaping indicating pedestrian priority. Buses will no longer travel along the refurbished Trimgate Street which will have a pedestrian-friendly atmosphere, while still allowing cars to drive and park on it. Old Cornmarket will be pedestrianised.
There are also proposals for two-way traffic on all of Railway Street to give easier access to Circular Road and the Fair Green from Brews Hill.

There will no longer be bus stops at Market Square or Railway Street; instead, buses will stop on either side of a widened Kennedy Road, with taxi ranks on Kennedy Road, AbbeyRoad and Bridge Street.
Real-time technology and traffic lights at Market Square will ensure that there will not be a build-up of bus traffic on Kennedy Road and the plaza area will be made more pedestrian-friendly. The timetables of private operators and Bus Eireann’s regional and town services will be synchronised to ensdure no build up of buses in the town centre.
The area from the top of Ludlow Street to the end of Kennedy Road at the AIB bank branch will be known as a bus gateway and will be signal-controlled to allow the buses move freely through the area. Bus Eireann has indicated it will improve the town bus service timetable.

Pedestrian connectivity between the town centre, St Finian’s Terrace and the library will be improved with raised paving and a small plaza-type area at the narrow end of the Fair Green which would continue across to St Finian’s Terrace. The Fair Green plaza would include seating, landscaping and possibly an urban tent feature.
The pedestrian exit from the steps at the Fair Green onto Circular Road, which has proved dangerous in the past, will be removed.
The proposals will shortly go on public display for six weeks and and the work will take place over a three to four year period.
The first phase will include the refurbishsment of the roundabout at the Solstice with new pedestrian crossings.
Tara Mines havs been consulted by the council with regards the proposed location of a park and ride facility out towards Newgate and the company is undertaking an evaluation of two sites on the Kells Road for this purpose.

PROPOSALS AT A GLANCE

1 - A new bus terminus and park and ride facility on the Kells Road.
2 - Set back bus stops on both sides of the Kennedy Road.
3 - The reversal of traffic on Ludlow Street
4 - Buses, taxis cyclists to be allowed travel from Ludlow Street to Kennedy Road.
5 - Traffic light holding area on Market Square and Kennedy Road to regulate number of buses at any given time.
6 - No bus stop at Market Square or Railway Street.
7 - Right turn from Kells Road to Timmons Hill removed.
8 - New taxi ranks on Abbey Road, Kennedy Road and Bridge Street.
9 - Old Cornmarket closed to traffic.
Other changes
• Increased and enhanced pedestrian areas.
• Integration of private and Bus Eireann local and regional bus services.
• Access to all car parks maintained.
• The loss of 28 of the towns 3000 parking spaces.
• More crossing and cycling facilities.

REACTION

The €12million revamp of Navan’s town centre is aimed at making the town more pedestrian and cycle friendly as well as making it more accessible to shoppers and public transport, according to Meath County Council Director of Services, Kevin Stewart.
“It is trying to find the right balance between pedestrians, cars and public transport,” he said.
There has been a mixed response to the proposals, but there was a unanimous agreement among councillors at a meeting of Navan Municipal District Council last week to start the formal planing process for the proposals and to putting the scheme out to consultation in the next few weeks.
Cllr Joe Reilly said the proposal was the first major investment in the centre of Navan in nearly 20 years.
“The investment package of €12million will help to promote Navan as the county town in Meath and as a major regional retail town.
“I would urge all of our citizens to view the plans when they go on public display and to contribute their ideas to the debate and final plan.
Cllr Tommy Reilly said he welcomed the overall plan but insisted that unless the lanes are provided with high spec lighting and CCTV, it won’t work.
He welcomed the proposals for a Park and Ride facility on the Kells Road, but was disappointed that the right turn off Circular Road onto the Fairgreen won’t be eliminated, as it causes traffic to tailback to the old M3.
Cllr Wayne Forde who was unable to attend last week’s meeting as he was in hospital said he was totally opposed to the proposals.
“I will be engaging with all business owners, local shops, employees and schools throughout Navan in the coming weeks to get their feedback on these proposals.”
“I still firmly believe when the tax office moves out to Buvinda House in Johnstown, you have a ready made bus station at the current county hall with hundreds of car parking spaces here.”
Donal Mulcahy of Town Radio Taxis said the reversal of traffic on Ludlow Street would sever a vital artery for traffic exiting the town of Navan and route more traffic down Watergate Street.
He said the removal of the bus stop from the Mercy Convent contradicts Green Travel policy bypassing two second level schools at least three primary schools and the addition of a bus hub will exacerbate the congestion and diminish sight lines on Kennedy Road (pictured above left) .
He said town centre parking is already inadequate and he predicted buses terminating in Navan will bypass Ludlow Street.