< Previous© August 2020 The Meath Coaster 10 Council Update By Cllr. Stephen McKee - ! New Pedestrian Crossing For Harry’s Mornington I have been informed by Meath County Council that work on the new Pedestrian Crossing at Harry’s Centra, Mornington will begin during August. I have been lobbying Meath County Council on this important safety issue for a while now alongside local residents so this is good news for the area. The Pedestrian Crossing will be of benefit to many local families as well as residents and visitors to the Ozanam Home across the road. A large number of families in the area had contacted me with their con- cerns. There is currently no safe crossing along the Garra Road. I will keep the pressure on to ensure the work is completed as soon as possible and I wish to thank Meath County Coun- cil for their support on this matter. My Campaign For Beach- Front Parking At Bettystown Beach It has been fantastic to be able to enjoy a car-free beach this Summer with my wife and 3 children. It has clear potential benefits for everyone and our local envi- ronment. It is also clear however that the Council ban on parking on Bettystown beach is flawed as suitable alternative parking is not currently in place. I highlighted at our last local Area Coun- cil meeting that the proposed arrangement for parking at Coláiste na hInse would not work due to its distance from the beach and the inconvenience, particularly for families with young children with bug- gies etc, and also for the elderly and those with disabilities and special needs. This has proven to be the case. Unfortunately, cars continue to line both sides of the road up the Golf Links round and in and around Bettystown Square on busy beach days creating a serious road safety issue and a great nuisance for local residents. Signage is poor and both senior citizens and those with special needs and disabilities are not being properly looked after. There are similar parking problems up at The Crook, Mornington. The situa- tion is not sustainable. To resolve the issues to the satisfaction © August 2020 The Meath Coaster 11 of all, I have proposed the following to Meath County Council: That the Council retain a section of the beach to the right on entering Bettystown beach at Seaview for age friendly and disabled parking. I fully support the avail- ability of age friendly and disabled park- ing on the beach. 1. That the Council develop the strip of land between the barber’s shop and the Convent on the Golf Links Road as the best possible site for beach-front parking onto Bettystown beach giving residents direct access from their cars to the sand. At my request, an ecolog- ical and feasibility report on the use of this site for beach-side parking is currently being carried out by Meath County Council. I have suggested that this area could also be used for park- ing for the new Library. The footpath already there would make it easily ac- cessible. I have asked the Council to install boardwalks and public lighting to help solve at the same time the on- going littering and anti-social behav- iour problems at this location. Proposed New Library & Community Building For Bettystown Public Consultation has opened on the proposed new seafront Library & Com- munity Building in Bettystown. It is pro- posed to open in 2022. If approved, the 700 square metre Library will include a community meeting room, public library areas, meetings rooms, study and multi-purpose rooms, a life- guard station and public toilets. The facility will also have disability changing space and will accommodate beach wheelchairs with ramp access onto the beach. The facility is planned to accommodate local civic, community and cultural events and will be a very important addition to the area. Business hub proposal As part of it, I am proposing that a busi- ness hub be included in the plans for the building. The new facility has the poten- tial to not only be a place for communi- ty use but also as a base for local people in business who wish to avail of broadband, meet like-minded individuals and share ideas and support one another. I have al- ready raised this point at Council level. With more and more people able and wishing to work from home, we need to do all we can to provide opportunities for local people to work locally. I would like to see space provided to start-ups and lo- cal SME’s to help such businesses start, scale and expand. There is opportunity to do something very creative with the new building. I am aware of some issues that local peo- ple have raised with me, including car parking and I will be raising those con- cerns also in my own submission. I would encourage everyone to make their views own on this important infrastructure pro- ject for the coast. Details of the project can be viewed on http://consult.meath.ie. Submissions or observations with respect to the pro- posed development may be made in writ- ing to.... Planning Department, Meath County Continued over....© August 2020 The Meath Coaster 12 Council, Buvinda House, Dublin Road, Navan, Co. Meath, C15 Y291 or by email to planning@meathcoco.ie on or before 4:00p.m. on Friday, 14 th Au- gust, 2020. Feel free to contact me if you wish to discuss the project. New Bettystown – Laytown ‘Spine’ Road I am delighted that work on the long- awaited Spine Road in Bettystown will begin on Tuesday, August 04 th . The road will be pedestrian and cycle friendly and the scheme will include car parking adja- cent to the Parochial Hall and Scoil Oil- ibheir Naofa Junior Primary School in Laytown. The Link Road is a crucial piece of infra- structure for the area and is long overdue. Road safety is a huge concern to parents of children attending the local schools and the present situation is neither acceptable nor sustainable. This is really good news for the area to have this project finally started. Boyne Green- way Meath County Council have submitted their plan for the new Boyne Green- way pedestrian and cycleway from Drogheda – Mornington to An Bord Pleana- la. Following repre- sentation I made on behalf of lo- cal residents on Tower Road and the Crook, Council planners have made some changes to the project including amending the end point to reduce impact on the dunes at Mornington, the car park- ing arrangement at Mornington Court and a reduction in levels at various points along the route to reduce the proposed boardwalk structures and visual impact. I fully support the project and the poten- tial it has as an important local recreation- al and tourist route. It is important too that the project commands the support of those who live along its route and who will be directly impacted by it. I believe further modifications should be made particularly along Tower Road where residents are concerned about losing parts of their front gardens and boundary walls amongst oth- er issues. Plans and particulars of the proposed de- velopment can be viewed between July 27 th and September 11 th at the following The (13 year delayed) Bettystown Laytown Spine Road finally starts construction, see http:// idocswebdpss.meathcoco.ie/iDocsWebDPSS/ listFiles.aspx?catalog=planning&id=P815003© August 2020 The Meath Coaster 13 locations: Planning Section, Meath Coun- ty Council, Buvinda House, Navan, County Meath C15Y291 Duleek Civic Offices, Main Street, Duleek, County Meath A92R9KW Submissions and observations may be made free of charge to An Bord Pleanala and must be received before 5.30pm on Friday, September 11 th 2020 in writing to An Bord Pleanala, 64 Marlborough Street, Dublin 1. New Footpath / Cycleway between Donacarney National Schools And Bet- tystown Cross We were informed by Meath County Council at our last Council meeting that the bat survey has been completed. A fi- nal report is due and work is expected to begin over the coming months. I am awaiting the detail specification on the route to ensure it meets the approval of residents along the road. As a past-pupil of the school, this issue has been a prior- ity for me over the last few years, so I am pleased that this project will shortly com- mence. It is vital that the work is done as soon as possible to ensure that children can get to school safely and that residents of Donacarney can access Bettystown by foot or bicycle safely also. New Bus Stops For The Golf Links Road Meath County Council have prepared a scheme for the provision of bus stop facil- ities at three locations on the Golf Links Road consisting of 6 separate bus stop fa- cilities and associated pedestrian facilities (3 on either side of the road). The plans of the proposed scheme are available to view online at consult.meath.ie Represen- tations in relation to the proposed works, may be made in writing to the Road Au- thority as follows: The Director of Services, Meath County Council, Planning Department, Buvinda House, Dublin Road, Navan, Co. Meath C15 Y291 or emailed to planning@ meathcoco.ie on or before 5:00p.m. on Wednesday, 19 th August, 2020. Further Information You can call, text or WhatsApp me direct- ly on 086 0432760 or should you prefer, email me at stephenmckeeff@gmail.com or through Facebook at Cllr Stephen Mc- Kee. I am able to provide all state docu- ments/applications via email and What- sApp. Take care, Stephen. § Cllr Stephen Mckee Staycation Family Photo July 2020© August 2020 The Meath Coaster 14 News From Julianstown & District Community Association By Niamh Bn. Uí Loinsigh I f you happen to be passing by the Julianstown Village Garden, we are de- lighted to say that a new entrance has been installed beside the car park and it has the ‘wow’ factor. This beautiful new archway was designed and created by local craftsman Jim Roth- well and it was installed Tom Hughes, ably assisted by assisted by Jim. Then on the Saturday morning a gang of volun- teers arrived to landscape it. Some of the men got busy spreading hardcore (supplied by Meath Co. Co.), while the rest of us filled the new Re- cycled Planters with several ton of soil. Then began the job of planting pollinat- ing plants to attract bees and butterflies. Many thanks to all the volunteers for their super work and to Meath County Coun- cil for funding this under the Community Environment Action Fund. Thanks also to Uniplumo Ireland Ltd. for donating the pollinators and to Black’s Garden Centre for giving us a great deal on the rest of the plants/trees. Green Flag Award In mid-July we had a visit by judges for the An Taisce Green Flag Award for 2020 and it was great to hear that they were very happy with the way the Garden is pro- gressing. Results will be announced, and fingers crossed that we retain the flag for © August 2020 The Meath Coaster 15 Continued over.... the coming 12 months. The Green Flags are similar to the Blue Flags that beaches are awarded with, so it is a great honour to achieve this status. This award would not be possible if we didn’t have the great help and assistance from all our very dedicated volunteers, our sponsors, Meath Co. Co. and An Taisce. Thank you all! Sonairte Re-Opens Delighted to let you know that Sonairte is open again! The shop and garden and trail will be open as normal 10am to 5pm Fri to Sun. The cafe and bathrooms remain closed until further notice due to covid restrictions. Please follow the social distance measures in place and keep yourselves and staff and volunteers safe From Tuesday, August 4 th Paint Pots will be accepted at Navan Kells and Trim Re- cycling Centres for disposal. There is a €1 charge per pot and a maximum limit of 10 pots per visit. Gate fee of €2 applies. Please pay by card where possible. Householders Only – No Commercial Customers permitted. Queries: environment@meathcoco.ie Can you spot the Red Admiral Butterfly? If you call to garden you might see one or two! Before and After Photos of seat in garden – Summer Growth has been cut back! Preston Park Trees got a good haircut and Estate is looking well. Great effort by residents. Ballygarth Castle – Beautiful Photograph taken by Eimhear Collins Photography© August 2020 The Meath Coaster 16 The Bed on the Drogheda side of Village got a good make over! Can you spot the Red Admiral Butterfly? If you call to garden you might see one or two!© August 2020 The Meath Coaster 17 Preston Park Trees got a good haircut and Estate is looking well. Great effort by residents. Before and After Photos of seat in garden – Summer Growth has been cut back!© August 2020 The Meath Coaster 18 Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh O n Monday July 27 th , Government announced the details of a Roadmap to Reo- pening Schools in late August/early Septem- ber. The roadmap sets out clear plans and prac- tical guidance on the measures schools will need to take to ensure that they can reopen in a safe and orderly way ensur- ing the security and wellbeing of every- one in the education community – Pupils, Parents, Staff, everyone working in the school community collaboratively and collectively to ensure all necessary proto- cols, plans and policies are in place. A funding package of €375 million to help schools prepare for reopening was also announced. This funding is being made available in recognition that COVID-19 poses significant challenges to schools in regards to staffing, supervision, safety and wellbeing. Additional provisions are also being made for special schools and special classes, recognising the additional measures that schools may be required to take to support them. It has been a very challenging time for everyone. And the implementation of the Education roadmap is also going to require intensive work and collaboration over the coming weeks. We know the impact on children, young people and their families in the absence of the social life, structure and support of school. Staying on track in terms of the disease to ensure that schools can reopen safely is our top priority. We will take all the necessary steps recommended to re- duce the likelihood of the spread of the virus within the school. There are many aspects to this COVID-19 response plan to be considered by the Board, Staff and Parents. We have begun this journey with all the relevant stake- holders ensuring the implementation of effective protocols and procedures which will continue right throughout the month of August. We are looking forward to be- ing back in our school and meeting you the Parents and all our pupils. We will continue to post updates on our school website www.ssnlaytown.ie and communicate via school story and via emails. 041 98 444 98 041 98 111 98 086 838 4444 www.eastcoastcabs.ie CABS & MINI-VANS SERVICING MEATH COAST & DROGHEDA REGIONS COACHES - 16, 24, 36 & 54 SEATERS AVAILABLE WHEELCHAIR AND LUXURY CORPORATE VEHICLES ALSO AVAILABLE ON REQUEST LOCAL SHOPPING RESTAURANTS & EVENINGS OUT TRAIN AND BUS STATIONS DUBLIN AIRPORT (24 HOURS) All Drivers and Vehicles are Covid-19 CompliantNext >