Update on Dunboyne-Clonee Active Travel hears about car parking concerns as Nine Spaces To Go

Report Paul Murphy
An official of Meath County Council yesterday Wednesday delivered an update on the Part 8 process surrounding the proposed Dunboyne-Clonee Active Travel project and concerns were raised about the projected loss of nine car parking spaces in Clonee main street. David O’Reilly said the scheme had red and green routes, the red being along the Rooske Road, Station Road and the R147 through Clonee to the Fingal county boundary for segregated cycling and the green route is along the Southern bank of Castle Street. Plans were put on display at Buvinda House (MCC HQ) , Ratoath MD offices, Dunboyne Library and also on the planning portal.

A video animation of the scheme was also made available. There were some concerns from Clonee businesses about the scheme and in the last couple of months council officials have liaised with business owners. Mr O’Reilly said that generally businesses were pleased to hear that there would be an upgrade to the public realm in Clonee. The process of inviting submissions and observations on the project has now closed and there were 15 submissions in all. Of the 15, 11 supported the scheme and four were not supportive.

The scheme has proposed red and green routes, Cllrs have six weeks to review the plans. 11 out of 15 submissions were positive to the scheme.

Some people suggested some “tweaks” to the scheme but those not supportive would have raised issues about land ownership, the environmental impact, and design. The chief executive’s report on the submissions is now being prepared and will be circulated to councillors and it has been recommended that the project should proceed. Councillors have six weeks to review the report.

Cllr Maria Murphy said there some concerns that the bus stop outside the Grasshopper Inn might be taken away from the main street. The official replied that they were trying to pull the car parking spaces that would be on the Western side of Clonee Main Street down towards the roundabout. They tried to pull the car parking spaces closer to the village so there would be more utilisation for the shops. The bus stop would be opposite the car garage that used be in existence. The cllr said she thought the Grasshopper location would be the safer option for the bus stop. Mr O’Reilly said that both bus stops, North and South, would have shelters.

LOSS OF NINE PARKING SPACES

Cathaoirleach Brian Fitzgerald said that there were serious concerns about the existing cycle lanes which he said was “never used” and now it was proposed to extend it and people were worried that would affect businesses. The official replied that there would be a loss of nine car parking spaces. There were 30 car parking spaces along the Main Street.

He said that business people would say people are inclined to use private car parking spaces such as Lidl and Aldi and other private car parks. There might be a loss of nine but then the council was pulling some spaces towards the centre of the town. Cllr Fitzgerald said that some of the supermarkets had taken to clamping cars. Mr O’Reilly said that as could be seen from the submissions, car parking hadn’t been raised as an issue.

Cllr Fitzgerald said he had “got it in the neck” from some businesses that were affected by the changes. Issues about the scheme were also raised by Cllr Gerry O’Connor and Cllr Fionnan Blake and Cllr Nick Killian.