Mornington to Drogheda Greenway refused planning permission
Plans for the Mornington to Drogheda Greenway suffered a major blow with the refusal of planning permission for the project by An Bord Pleanala.
The proposed cycle and pedestrian way is part of the overall plan for the Boyne Greenway with proposals to link Mornington with the existing Greenway from Drogheda to Oldbridge, then onto Navan and Trim.
Meath County Council applied for planning permission to the Bord Pleanala for the Mornington Drogheda section more than three years ago and provided further information when required almost two years ago.
The Inspectors report said the Board could not rule out the possibility of adverse effects on the Special Area of Conservation (SAC) "in the absence of detailed information on the installation of the proposed boardwalk within the SAC."
Cllr Sharon Tolan has expressed her concern at the Bord Pleanala decision but said it was not the end of the project.
“I want to assure people that this is not the end of this project. Meath County Council are now faced with a number of choices. It is important that we take the time to study the Inspector’s Report and decide how to proceed in the coming weeks. There were a lot of positives in the initial Board Order that would suggest a broad acceptance of the scheme. If there are grounds for appeal or Judicial Review, then the Council must take this action. If there are no grounds for appeal, then we must sit down and design a scheme that ABP, National Parks and Wildlife and the National Transport Authority will accept.
"At the end of the day, we should all be collaborating on providing this scheme in the most environmentally friendly way and one that will also address the needs of the community. A safe pedestrian and cycling route still needs to be delivered between Mornington and Drogheda, and the disappointment of this news will not deter me from the challenge of the work we have to do to deliver this important scheme.”
Cllr Wayne Harding described the decision as "very, very disappointing."
"This is about smarter travel. Surely we have to find ways where biodiversity can co-exist with humans on foot or cycling. We have to provide a safe walking and cycling route from Drogheda to the beach," he said.
Cllr Harding pointed out that the section from Mornington to Drogheda, would have no bearing on the proposals for the Greenway section from Oldbridge to Navan, which is currently at design stage.
He welcomed a recent progress report which said extensive research has been carried out in relation to future flooding of the river and it is expected that an emerging preferred route option will be announced in the last quarter of this year.
"This will then allow the authorities to move to public consultation in relation to final design.
"This is good news as the tourism potential of the Boyne Greenway is absolutely huge. The Boyne river meanders through a valley that is incredibly rich in all aspects of Irish history including a world heritage site that is older than the pyramids.
"To connect Bettystown Beach to Drogheda, Slane, Navan and Trim by foot, bikes and boats is an absolute no-brainer at a time when we are looking for ways to combat the devastating ravages of climate change.
"It is now six years since I led a delegation from Meath to meet the Waterford chief executive to explore how the Dungarvan to Waterford Greenway was delivered. A huge amount of work has been put in since then and I feel the economic benefits in Waterford can be mirrored in the Boyne Valley, while people enjoy themselves in an environmentally friendly way," he said.