Have your say on Drogheda’s future by this Friday
FIANNA Fáil TD for Louth and East Meath Declan Breathnach will be making a submission to the National Planning Framework on behalf of the region of his constituency.
“I have had numerous representations from Drogheda residents for instance, who feel aggrieved that the town, being the largest town in Ireland, did not get a mention in the current draft framework document, and feel it should get City designation”, said Breathnach.
“I believe that the entire region of the east coast north of Dublin on the M1 corridor should receive a special designation, being ideally situated between Dublin and Belfast, with access infrastructure already present, i.e. roads, Dublin Airport, Belfast Airport in addition to deep water ports.”
“I am urging all interested parties and community groups to send in a submission before the deadline of Friday the 10th of November. Submissions will not be accepted for this draft stage beyond this date.’
Sinn Féin TD Imelda Munster has slammed the government for their exclusion of Drogheda in the Draft National Planning Framework. Speaking in the Dáil, Deputy Munster said that Drogheda had been stripped of any semblance of power it once had, and that as the largest town in Ireland and its strategic location it deserved inclusion as a large urban centre in the National Planning Framework.
“Brexit is coming down the track and Drogheda needs to be ready. We need investment in our business parks and business development, investment in infrastructure including Drogheda Port and we need to remove the slip road toll plazas which currently split the town in half and are damaging to business and community,’ she stated.
‘Drogheda’s Borough Council needs to be reinstated, and ultimately we need city status. We can’t repeat the mistakes of the past under Labour, Fine Gael and Labour. Drogheda can’t be left behind again.’
Senator Ged Nash has said that the critical final phase of the National Planning Framework campaign for Drogheda starts this week.
“I have been overwhelmed at the public response to the campaign since it was first revealed that Drogheda has been omitted from the government Plan that will dictate where jobs, investment and services will go up to 2040. Individuals and local groups have made their submissions, contacted our local TDs and spread the message far and wide,’ he stated.
‘As the deadline closes, the pressure must be kept up over the next few weeks. The final draft of the plan will go before government for a decision before Christmas. It is crucial for our future that Drogheda is allowed to meet its full potential over the next twenty years and beyond.’
All submissions must be made before this Friday to include the following:
Your name and details of any organisation, community group or company you represent.
An address for correspondence.
Your submission on relevant planning issues for the National Planning Framework.
Submissions are to be made by one medium only, either electronic or hard copy.
You can email your submission to the following email address only npf@housing.gov.ie or post your submission to the following address:
NPF Submissions,
Forward Planning Section,
Department of Housing, Planning,
Community and Local Government,
Custom House,
Dublin D01 W6X0.
You can make a submission online - Log on to http://npf.ie/ share-your-views.