— Scheme “last option”, rejecting it would be “massive blow against active travel in Navan”.
A clear majority of people in Navan support the Convent Road Filtered Permeability Scheme according to a survey for Meath County Council.
The currently on-going trial of filtered permeability on Convent Road follows from a previous plan which was strongly objected to. The campaign against the previous plans — which included the re-location of a historic wall and felling of trees — even gained the support of Pierce Brosnan, an actor who grew up in the town.
The survey on the trial found that 70% of respondents noted a more pleasant experience of using Convent Road due to the scheme, while 30% of respondents were not at all in favour of the scheme. The survey was undertaken by Interactions Research for the council.
It also found that, among the same respondents, 85% had favourable attitude towards active travel schemes in general and 74% believed scheme provides easier access for pedestrians and cyclists.
The use of filtered permeability using bollards and planters, which allows for access for motorists while blocking them from driving through a street or road, is sometimes controversial at first. But the measures usually gain wider public support as people see the results — this pattern has happened in Drumcondra and Grangegorman in Dublin.
The Navan Cycling Initiative said: “As the results of the survey show, the benefits of the scheme have been overwhelmingly positive. hundreds of people use the route. Part 8 plans are being prepared to make the trial permanent, and a final decision to do so will be decided by local Navan Cllrs in December.”
“The scheme remains the last option for the area. It cannot be stressed enough how rejecting this scheme would be a massive blow against active travel in Navan. Effectively, if you are against the scheme, you are against making Navan a better and more sustainable place to live,” they said.
The group added: It also can’t be stressed enough that this scheme is not just for Convent Road, but plays a key part in connecting the overall plans for the Navan Cycle Network. It is part of the ‘Athlumney to Trim Road Cycle and Pedestrian Scheme’, and on a key route for the town.”
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