Doubts over Duleek HGV ban
AN alternative route - that didn’t impact on residents on country roads - would have to be identified before a full HGV ban is introduced in Duleek.
That’s the view of Meath CC, reponding to a proposal by Cllr Stephen McKee as part of the new Meath County Development Plan.
That said, Engineer Padraig Maguire did confirm that a proposal already existed in the plan that suggested levels of HGV traffic should be managed in the village.
Cllr McKee was seeking a ban on such vehicles. Cllr Sharon Tolan said that such a ban was discussed at local level in the past but the big issue was the fear of ‘rat runs’ because of it.
Cllr Geraldine Keogan said it had been brought to the council in 2017.
Cllr McKee said he would bring the subject back to be reviewed at council level.
He also urged a bypass for the village due to the traffic volumes.
Council official Des Foley said the objective existed, but funding had been restricted and the council put forward Julianstown for a bypass, with traffic calming for Duleek.
Clr Paddy Meade said that the lorries were having a big impact on the quality of life of local residents.
He said during council meetings at the civic offices, they sometimes had to stop talking due to the noise levels outside.
‘I support Julianstown, but Duleek needs a bypass too,’ he said. ‘Fixing one does not fix the other.’
Cllr McKee also sought to have a public park for Duleek as a local amenity space.
The council again said that such objectives already existed for an open space and public park.
Cllr Paddy Meade agreed with the suggestion and said a park would be a huge asset for Duleek and its growing population.
A TECHNICAL unit, with the purpose of examining CCTV in the town, has been set up by An Garda Siochana as the war on drugs and its associated elements continues.
Seen as an ‘innovative step’, the Drogheda garda unit now has officers detailed to pull CCTV together to help in criminal convictions.
A sergeant and four gardai are now part of the process.
It is believed the new unit has helped on major investigations which are ongoing.
The newly installed CCTV in estates and areas around town has also added to the gardai’s armoury in hunting down criminals.
The service had not been operational for some years but in association with the local authority, the scheme is back working and supplying footage for cases.
Addressing the Joint Policing Meeting recently, Chief Supt Christy Mangan said that the unit had been formed and was of great assistance to officers in terms of prosecutions.
Cllr Hugh Conlon also raised the issue of CCTV at the Monasterboice cemetery and High Crosses after a number of incidents in recent years.
Paddy Donnelly from Louth CC said that there were no plans for CCTV in Monasterboice as the council didn’t have the resources and that local people would not be able to act as data controllers for any CCTV system.