Council push ahead on plans to pedestrianise Trimgate St

Meath Co Council has set out the timeline for the pedestrianisation of Trimgate Street in Navan.

The council proposes “to reinvigorate Trimgate Street” with a planning application and public consultation on the proposed pedestrianisation scheme early in the new year.

According to the council, the pedestrianisation of Trimgate Street is a core part of the Council’s wider plan to revitalise and rejuvenate Navan town centre. Already, significant improvements have been made to areas of the town centre including Railway Street, Ludlow and Bridge Street and most recently Market Square, Kennedy Road and Kennedy Plaza. Upgrades have also been made to the public transport network in the town centre.

Meath Co Council Chief Executive Fiona Lawless commented: “This plan for Trimgate Street will deliver an attractive, safer and more enjoyable shopping and leisure environment at the heart of Navan Town Centre. It will make for a better experience for those visiting the town centre and it will encourage more people to visit, to shop and to stay longer.”

The pedestrianisation plan builds on the original Navan ‘2030’ plan to enhance pedestrian access on Trimgate Street, by providing people with a vehicle free environment for shopping and leisure after 10am.

Proposals outlined to councillors include a pedestrian-focused street incorporating high quality pavements, street furniture and complementary planted areas. Although largely pedestrianised, the eastern end will be a ‘shared space’ facilitating 24-hour access to existing private car parks. Deliveries and access for service vehicles will be facilitated along the full length of the street each morning up to 10am.

The council says its plan will further deliver the overall objective of improved pedestrian access and movement in and out of the town centre whilst reflecting an increased focus at a national level on utilisation of more sustainable and active travel methods.

The process will involve a Statutory Public Consultation where members of the public and interested parties can have their say. The council has had initial engagement with businesses, St Mary’s Parish and the public on the proposals and made some refinements to the draft proposals.

A last week's meeting of Navan Municipal District Council, Meath Co Council Cathaoirleach, Cllr Tommy Reilly congratulated the council on the work already done in the town. He said he was fully behind the proposals and the council should publish a survey carried out by it, which showed 70 per cent of the public want pedestrianisation of Trimgate Street.

Cllr Padraig Fitzsimons said that he wasn't in favour of pedestrianisation

“I grew up there and have a business on the street. 98 per cent of businesses on the street don't want pedestrianisation streamrolled in.

“It will affect how you get in and out of Navan, The town has very narrow streets and we already have a lot of pedestrianisation of the laneways. It would kill the middle of the town. It might look well in the summer, but from October to March it won't look attractive,” he said.

The survey carried out in Trimgate Street showed 73 per cent of shoppers believed pedestrianisation would improve the street, 64 per cent said it would improve the shopping experience and 72 per cent felt it would increase road safety.

The plans will go to a six-week public consultation in early 2024. Further details of the proposals and of how to participate in the public consultation will be made available in the new year.