ACTION PLAN FOR MOUNT AVENUE AREA DISCUSSED AT MEETING
AREA COULD CONTAIN MORE HOUSES THAN ARDEE, BUT NEEDS PROPER ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY
March 1998
AN area action plan for Mount Avenue, commissioned because of increasing pressure for development, is discussed at a special meeting of Dundalk urban council.
No decisions are to be made at this stage, while meetings will be held with residents.
The area considered comprises 260 hectares of currently undeveloped land, 170 hectares (65%) of which falls within the urban council’s jurisdiction. It is dissected by Mount Avenue.
Cllr Pearse O’Hanrahan notes the area could contain more houses than Ardee.
He welcomes the concept, saying it would stop the ‘willy nilly’ type of development he has seen before.
The council can highlight and lay down in the plan the type of development to take place.
However, he has some reservations, and the question of archaeological remains is not addressed enough.
Cllr O’Hanrahan proposes they seek funding for a proper archaeological survey.
Cllr Sean Kenna points out he has a motion for the next meeting that the council employs an archaeologist to go on to such sites.
Meanwhile, Cllr Jim Cousins says he has a difficulty where it is envisaged a link would emerge onto the Carrick Road, close to Lisnawilly lodge house, but town engineer Dermot Agnew replies the chosen route takes cognisance of the hills and hollows of the area and is considered the best.
Cllr Stephen Burns feels they should look far ahead on this and cites how house prices in Drogheda are being affected by its proximity to Dublin.
As a motorway to Dundalk isn’t far away, and people will want to live in Dundalk and drive to Dublin, so there is going to be a lot more houses.
But he doesn’t agree that roads in places like Mount Avenue should be upgraded.
He watches traffic drive there at 50/60mph and that will only get worse.
Cllr Johnny McGahon welcomes forward planning, and believes rezoning should follow demand, and not be done initially.
An area that can most do with development is between the Carrick Road and the Ardee Road, but the services aren’t provided.
Mr Agnew replies the council is trying to get the south-west scheme through but are about to appoint contractors for the north-west drainage scheme for Toberona/Farndreg, which could start in six-to-eight weeks and take about nine months.
Cllr Seamus Keelan remarks the plan shows the way to improve Mount Avenue yet the council is now allowing development, including their own schemes, to take place on both sides of the Castletown Road which is in a diabolical state.
Cllr Cousins wonders why the question of a pub is included.
The town engineer says in a large area they have got to have focal points, and they may require a number of such focal points here.
Cllr Hanrahan, a pioneer, says he has no problem with the concept. When people are being advised not to drink and drive, they are providing the facility closer to the area.