‘A people-oriented town centre will lead to a happier, healthier town’

A CONCERTED campaign is underway in Navan to connect two key cycle routes linking the Johnstown area and Blackwater Park with the town centre.

The Navan Cycling Initiative has sought the support of local business and councillors for proposals to speed up the provision of the interconnected routes.

Following a recent motion by Cllr Yemi Adenuga at a meeting of Navan Municipal Council, the Cycling Initiative has been asked to prepared more information for the councillors.

Dave Anderson of Navan Cycling Initiative (NCI) said: "We want to accelerate the creation of protected walking/cycling routes that will have the biggest positive impact in the shortest time, to allow everyone to get around safely and easily. The first route connects Blackwater park to the existing cycle lanes at the N51, beside St Paul’s school. This will provide a safe, spacious route for walking and cycling to the park, which will reduce the pressure on the overcrowded car park. The second route is along the Dublin road, connecting the town with the Johnstown area, which will provide a space for cyclists, walkers and runners alongside the Boyne."

Cllr Adenuga points out that at the moment cycling routes in Navan lead nowhere - you can start cycling and it just ends.

"We need to have safe, connected cycling routes around the town and there are some measures that could be taken to provide them fairly quickly - like using bollards in certain areas, similar to what was done in Dublin.

"My goal is to have a safe cycle friendly town."

Cllr Adenuga also called on Meath County Council to provide a number of parklets, at suitable locations in the town centre, "to help drive local engagement and support for local businesses in Navan town centre as we prepare for summer.”

The Navan Cycling Initiative has letters of support from a number of businesses for these parklets.

Cllr Adenuga explained that she was talking about little outdoor seating areas around the town where people can meet up and which would attract a lot of footfall.

The council has pointed out however that the provision of parklets was considered during 2020, but it was decided not to proceed as each parklet could remove approximately two to three car parking spaces on the street.

Mr Anderson said Navan Cycling Initiative were focused on making cycling safe, convenient and enjoyable.

"We believe improvements are needed right now, not in five years - or even next year.

"It seems strange, but Covid could actually have a positive impact, in that it has forced us to look at our local area more than ever before.

"We’re all spending much more time closer to home. We’re also having to get used to meeting and socialising outdoors, and this made us look at our public spaces and facilities. And for those of us who are able, we’re also getting out walking and cycling more than ever before, exploring different routes and thinking about new ones.

"This is why we’re proposing improvements that will make Navan a place to go, and improved ways to get around. A people-oriented town centre will lead to a happier, healthier town with higher footfall for local businesses. Small improvements can bring about major positive changes, in the way a town functions and feels and this is being seen right across the country.”

He explained their support for parklets. "Provide public seating in public spaces around the town centre, to enable people to sit and socialise outdoors safely. Many towns have implemented easy-to-install seating areas with built-in greenery or flowerbeds, called parklets because they look like miniature parks. These parklets range from simply moving existing planters to surround a space, to fully-designed robust structures that can stand up to the rigours of town centre life." Mr Anderson said they had consulted local businesses and councillors, to get different views and perspectives about the benefits and any negative impacts.

"We spoke with more than a dozen business owners in the town centre, and the response was overwhelmingly positive and the view from councillors was equally positive."

"There is still a lot of work needed, but other towns have paved the way, delivering larger-scale projects in just eight to 12 weeks. If this is possible in Drogheda, Dundalk, Kildare town, Blackrock, Cork, Galway and even Westport, it must be possible here in Navan."

Cllr Adenuga was told Meath County Council Transportation Department is currently preparing tender documents for the appointment of consultants for the design of National Transport Authority (NTA) funded cycle route projects .

However, the progression of the projects will be dependent on the allocation of additional staff resources by the council and this is currently under review following confirmation of funding to be provided through the NTA’s sustainable mobility investment programme.