Campaigners have welcomed the move by councillors in Navan to vote to make the Convent Road Filtered Permeability Scheme permanent once CCTV is installed.
The filtered permeability project, which makes a street or road safer and more attractive for walking and cycling by removing through car traffic, is one of a number of similar schemes in Ireland which was trialled before being made permanent with a vote from local councillors.
The trial of the filter on Convent Road was suggested by councillors as a solution to objections to a previous plan which would have required changes to a historic wall and the removal of a number of trees. A survey conducted for Meath County Council found last year that a clear majority of people in Navan support the project, but there was also strident opposition from some.
According to a report by Meath Chronicle newspaper, Cllr Eddie Fennessy (Sinn Féin), Cllr Emer Tóibín (Aontu), Cllr Francis Deane (independent) and Cllr Alan Lawes (independent) voted for the project, and Cllr Padraig Fitzsimons (Fianna Fáil) and Cllr Tommy Reilly (Fianna Fáil) voted against.
Navan Cycling Initiative, a cycling campaign group, said: “Some great news! The Convent Road Filtered Permeability Scheme is to be made permanent! This is a fantastic scheme which we’ve supported from the beginning and plays a key part in the overall Navan Cycle Network. We are delighted to see this happen – a great day for Navan!”
The group added: “Well done to the Councillors who supported it, in particular Edward Fennessy who first proposed the idea to restrict access with bollards in 2018 and has been a strong supporter of it ever since.”