Campaigners want Greenway connected to Navan town

Navan Cycling Initiative presented the Mayor of Navan, Cllr Eddie Fennessy, with a petition with 648 signatures supporting the call to connect the Greenway to Navan town.

The petition calls for the new greenway to be connected to Navan town centre, to bring tourists into the town and to make the Greenway accessible for everyone.

The Boyne Valley to Lakelands Greenway opened officially in May of this year, providing a traffic-free amenity between Ratholdren Road in Navan and Kingscourt, County Cavan.

Ed Moynihan, chairperson of Navan Cycling Initiative said: “We get emails and messages every week from people asking how to get to and from the Greenway. It’s embarrassing to have to tell people there’s no safe route, no signage, and no facilities, and shocking that hospitality businesses in the town are missing out.

"Over a year ago, in May 2023, the Council were asked to look into solutions, yet nothing has been done, and another year is wasted.

"The area around the Greenway also has the town’s leisure centre, main park, and multiple schools - including St Paul's who have almost 800 students – who would all benefit from improvements, and would reduce the heavy traffic on Ratholdren Road".

Cllr Fennessy said; "Every time I visit the Greenway it's always very busy. People come from all over to use the amenity. This morning we met two gentlemen who travelled all the way from Belfast to avail of it.

"I fully support the Navan Cycling Initiative and their call for a safe and segregated cycle path between the centre of Navan and the Greenway. It makes complete sense for a number of reasons, safe access being the main one. But also from an economic perspective, a path from the Greenway to town would bring potential customers into Navan to the benefit of local traders.

"This is the right call from the Cycling Initiative group. They have compiled a petition with over 600 signatures from local residents who also want this to happen.

"As the Mayor of Navan, I too make that call and I do so on behalf of the people and the local business community who can only benefit from a link between the Greenway and the centre of town.

"I call on Meath County Council to take a serious look at this proposal and to deliver it as soon as possible," he said.

Mr Moynihan concluded; "Navan Cycling Initiative is a community-based group and a branch of the Irish Cycling Campaign, that aims to make active travel in Navan and surrounding areas safe, enjoyable, and popular for everyone. We hope to encourage people to use active travel as part of their normal daily transport as well as a leisure activity and help Navan to become a cycle and pedestrian-friendly town."