Navan laneway a 'very hostile environment' for vulnerable road users

Residents on part of Swan Lane in Navan say they are taking their lives in their hands when they leave their homes, because there is no footpath.

A stretch of the lane from Old Balreask Woods to Kilcarn doesn't have a footpath despite the fact that there are a lot of houses and a school along the road.

Kevin Corrigan who lives on Swan Lane said he cannot let his children walk anywhere because it is too dangerous.

“They cannot have a little bit of independence because there is no footpath. We lives across from old Balreask Woods. There is a path from the Dublin Road, by the Rugby Club to the estate, but there is nothing from then on.

“They resurfaced the road in recent years and it has caused traffic to speed along this part of the road. I don't have to go to the mechanic as often but it has made the area even more dangerous.

“There are about 20 houses directly on the lane as well as several care homes for people with intellectual disabilities who regularly use the road for exercise.

“The R147 active travel scheme stops short of the Kilcarn Court entrance. This is approximately 200 metres short of the entrance to Old Balreask Woods and Oakleigh estates, passing by Ard Rí school, the rugby club and tennis club. All of these areas and amenities would greatly benefit from being connected to the Navan cycle network. “After that point Swan Lane narrows, there is no footpath or street lighting and dangerous driving habits create a very hostile and potentially deadly environment for vulnerable road users. This is particularly noticeable just before 9am, 3pm and 5pm as people use the road as a rat run to access Ard Ri and the two housing estates from the Dublin Road.

“I see a lot of young people coming from the estates and walking down towards Kilcarn Bridge to get the bus and it is lethal. There are currently six Meath Co Council housing units being built opposite the entrance to Old Balreask Woods and there doesn't seem to be any plans for a change to the road/junction layout.”

At a meeting of Navan Municipal Council last week, Cllr Yemi Adenuga called on the Council to “introduce traffic calming measures along Swan Lane, as well as the installation of footpaths, streetlights and cycle lane for the safety of cyclists and school children who use the road on a regular basis.”

She was told Meath Co Council had recently undertaken upgrade works on Swan Lane, including pavement resurfacing works and road lining renewal works, in addition to the provision of traffic calming road markings.

As part of the planned R147 Cycle and Pedestrian Scheme, traffic calming measures are proposed on part of Swan Lane, including the narrowing of the Swan Lane/R147 junction, and introduction of a raised table pedestrian crossing. There are currently no plans to undertake a wider upgrade scheme on Swan Lane to incorporate footpaths, streetlights and cycle lanes.

She told the meeting that residents cannot walk safely outside their houses.

“Residents have been talking to me on numerous occasions about how dangerous the road is. To think that people living within a few hundred yards of the urban area cannot walk or cycle safely is unacceptable.”

She said the proposed Cycle and Pedestrian scheme was an opportunity for the council to explore “how it could include traffic calming, footpaths and cycle lanes on the rest of the lane as part of the proposed scheme.

“The safety of the residents and children that use that road regularly is paramount”.

Cllr Padraig Fitzsimons said that the road was so narrow and there were too many properties that come too close to the road, so unless they took people's gardens or front doors off them or it was made one way, it couldn't be done.

Director of Services, Martin Murray said that to implement the motion it would involve significant cost and a lot of Compulsory Purchase Orders affecting peoples' front doors and gardens.