Pandemic pushing thoughts towards pedestrianisation trial of Trimgate St

Future contracts for the Navan 2030 scheme will be tweaked as Meath County Council take steps to pedestrianise Trimgate Street for a trial period.

Councillors heard last week that there is a big appetite for the pedestrianisation of the street.

At a meeting of Navan Municipal Council, the Mayor, Cllr Francis Deane proposed closing Trimgate Street to traffic on a trial basis starting on 3rd July and running until 29th August on Saturdays and Sundays only from 9am until 7pm on each day.

He withdrew his motion when it was agreed to tweak contracts for the Navan 2030 work to allow for pedestrianisation during a trial period which wouldn't be affected by Navan 2030 works.

His initial proposal was that Meath County Council would engage with business owners, traders and stakeholders on Trimgate Street with a view to pedestrianisation.

“Having consulted with business owners on Trimgate Street, the general consensus is that a trial pedestrianisation period would be accepted during school holidays, if the local authority will commit,” he said.

“The main priority is to improve footfall on Trimgate Street and generate more trade for the many long established businesses such as drapery shops, florists, jewellers, shoe shops, butchers, fishmonger, newsagents, cafes and bars.

“Businesses are going through a rough time and this could help. The fact that you can now turn right and left when you come down Brews Hill is also a help,' he said.

Cllr Emer Tóibín said there was a massive appetite for this proposal. The fact that Railway Street is two way is good and it is important to do a trial run.

“A couple of businesses wouldn't like to see it happen but more would.

Cllr Tommy Reilly recalled proposing in 1999 that Trimgate Street be pedestrianised. “It will be the making of Trimgate Street,” he said.

Cllr Padraig Fitzsimons recalled Cllr Reilly and the late Cllr Joe Reilly proposing pedestrianisation.

“As a stakeholder, I was against it at that time.

“My opinion has changed and I think most stakeholders would now support it. We need to talk to them all. A whole new plan is needed. A cover over the street would make it work.

“I remember the architect Sean Boyle years ago had a plan for covering the street. It has been done in a lot of towns in the UK. I was in Leeds last year and saw it,” he said.

Cllr Deane recalled a plan by Jack Davis of Navan Chamber in 1982 which would involve a cover on Trimgate Street.

“It would have been a great boost – it could be opened on a good sunny day but closed on a wet day.”

Cllr Yemi Adenuga said the most important thing is that they engage with local business.

“There are quite a number of stakeholders involved and we need to engage with them to ensure they are on board,” she said.

Director of Services, Martin Murray said that when Navan 2030 was first mooted there were no plans to close Trimgate Street to traffic. He explained that work on Trimgate Street was to have been part of contract four of Navan 2030 and was due to have taken place in the second quarter of 2022.

He said the Council was not opposed to the motion and the Council would engage with stakeholders, but closing it in July, while the current contracts were underway and large areas were designated parklets could be a problem.

“Maybe we should see how the parklets work.

“I'd like to plan a pilot, but I don't just weekends will work. We could tweak some of the Navan 2030 contract so a pilot could be carried out before work would be due to begin on Trimgate Street,” he said. Mr Murray said the council would engage with the local business groups and affected parties.