Approval for proposed Park and Share scheme

COUNCILLORS were split on the issue but enough voted in favour to allow a proposed Park and Share scheme at the Ardee Road proceed to the next stage.

Louth county council intends to construct a €1.8 million scheme, with 226 car-parking spaces at Gibstown, approximately 250m west of Junction 16 of the M1 Motorway.

The development includes a safe pick-up and drop-off area for those using the facility; improved public lighting and lighting of the facility; provisions for possible future security measures (e.g. CCTV), electric vehicle (EV) charging points, and public transport connection; as well as measures to deter use by heavy goods vehicles.

At the moment, motorists who are car-pooling park on the hard shoulder at this location, and at others, including Ballymascanlon.

At the monthly meeting, held in the Town Hall theatre to allow for social distancing, members were asked to vote on a Part 8 planning application which is the method a county council uses to apply for planning permission for a development.

The Park and Share is in the planning area of Dundalk and its environs, director of services Frank Pentony explained.

There is no requirement to give a full detail design in the Part 8, he added, as the project is not at the design stage.

At the outset, Cllr Maeve Yore indicated she would not be supporting the application.

‘It (the Park and Share) is in the wrong location,’ she said.

Cllr Maria Doyle remarked she would prefer not to have to make a decision at this meeting, over what she felt was a lack of detail.

‘I want to know the noise implications for people living in the vicinity as 226 cars is a lot,’ she said.

Cllr Doyle also wanted to know was there any guarantee motorists would stop parking on the road.

‘I would like more detail on lighting and noise. I have a few concerns.’

Cllr Marianne Butler said her brother parked on that hard shoulder every day, and she would love to see the situation regularised.

The Green Party representative wondered about the noise impact of brakes, beeping horns and car doors shutting.

‘We can work through the issues. I’m happy to support it. There are benefits,’ she commented.

Cllr Tomás Sharkey said he believed the best engineering solution will be found.

He warned of no public funding if they delayed; and paid tribute to chief executive Joan Martin for her ‘ very considered’ input.

His Sinn Féin colleague Cllr Kevin Meenan agreed it was the way forward. They had to look at the bigger picture.

Cllr Conor Keelan remarked that permanent CCTV coverage would be of benefit, but was surprised to read in a report that there was only a possibility of its installation.

On the proposal of Cllr Sharkey, seconded by Cllr Butler, in favour of approving the Part 8 were Cllrs Marianne Butler, Edel Corrigan, Conor Keelan, Seán Kelly, Kevin Meenan, Tomás Sharkey and Antóin Watters.

Cllrs Maria Doyle and Maeve Yore voted against. Cathaoirleach Emma Coffey at the start informed the meeting that a relative of hers had made a submission on the Park and Share. She abstained.

IT is planned to install cameras at dumping blackspots, the meeting was informed.

Cllr Edel Corrigan had raised environmental concerns about IBCs being left at the same spot near the Castletown River.

Senior engineer Mark Johnston said cameras will be set at blackspots over a three-month period though there were data protection and other issues to be gone through, including with gardaí.

Cllr Corrigan asked could the council co-ordinate the cameras with existing CCTV in place.

Senior executive officer Alan Sherry explained data protection legislation made that impossible.

If, for example, a camera was put up for the purpose of anti-social behaviour, it could not be used for litter.

A camera has to be used for a specific purpose. Cllr Seán Kelly said the pond at Ice House Hill Park had not been cleaned in a number of years and had a number of trollies in it.

He asked could litter black-spots be checked on a weekly basis without councillors having to raise them at meetings.

The Fianna Fáil representative was told litter wardens are aware of the blackspots and check them regularly.

Cllr Antóin Watters said each councillor had bad places for dumping in their own areas, and he highlighted an ongoing problem at Edentubber.

He recalled a cross-border anti-dumping initiative and wanted to know if it was still going.

Senior engineer Mark Johnston said there was an arrangement with the UK to chase up fines issued to Northern Ireland residents, but they were ‘pretty rare’.

In respect of Edentubber, most fines were not in respect of NI-reg vehicles.