Soup kitchen concerns to be aired at meeting

LOCATION CONCERNS FOR RESIDENTS

A PUBLIC meeting is to take place in the Westcourt Hotel on Monday, June 9th, in relation to the new soup kitchen planned for the former Dolan’s pub at Sunday’s Gate.

Newly elected councillor Frank Godfrey has called the gathering after requests from people living in the area.

‘ This is not an issue in relation to a soup kitchen opening. It’s the location that’s the concern,’ he stated this week.

He has received a number of compaints and has organised the meeting on the back of what he came across on his canvass for the weekend’s election.

It is felt that the area is mainly residential and not a place for a soup kitchen.

With the proposed centre at a major junction, it is regarded as a danger, especially with schools nearby.

The original kitchen opened on West Street last year but the location wasn't found to be suitable.

Efforts were then made to source a new location and the former Dolan’s pub was secured.

'It has everything we need,' Mark O'Neill from the kitchen stated.

' There is a huge need for the service in Drogheda. There is a middle class there now in trouble to make ends meet and we'll be doing our bit.'

The service will open from 8am to 6pm and provide free breakfast and dinners for those in need.

There will be about 130 volunteers manning the centre.

Mark O’Neill has already told the Drogheda Independent that the site will be well policed so that people won’t be hanging around the area and there will be litter patrols.

The meeting takes place at 7pm on June 9th.