Convent Road pedestrian and cycle way approved - once CCTV goes is activated

The permanent pedestrian and cycle route on the Convent Road in Navan has been given the green light, following a decision taken at a meeting of Navan Municipal Council last week.

While councillors gave the go ahead to the project, they passed a motion that it doesn't become permanent until CCTV us activated in the area.

The proposal to give the go ahead for the project went to a vote with the Mayor Cllr Eddie Fennessy, and Cllrs Emer Tóibín, Francis Deane and Alan Lawes supporting the project and Cllrs Padraig Fitzsimons and Tommy Reilly voting against.

Cllr Fitzsimons had told the meeting that residents in the immediate are were not happy because of anti-social behaviour since the road was closed to traffic. He had proposed allowing traffic to travel one way on the road, but was told that wouldn't comply with safety standards unless the old walls were removed.

A motion proposed by Cllr Fennessy and Tóibín “That the Convent Road Filtered Permeability Scheme, does not enjoy permanent status until such time as the CCTV becomes operational” was supported by all members.

Cllr Fennessy said he was happy the scheme has been approved.

"It forms a crucial part of the overall cycle network and the financial implications of it's rejection could have seriously damaged the completion of that network," he said.

"We've all raised concerns around anti-social behaviour in the area. CCTV will alleviate that problem and in terms of permanency of the scheme, it is contingent on those cameras being operational.

"I visited the area on a cold, wet and windy evening last week and observed six cyclists and ten pedestrians. It's being used for what it was designed for and that's great to see.

"We won't see the full benefit of the Athlumney section until the entire network is in use alongside the Boyne Greenway, hindsight will tell us then that we were right to approve this project," he said.