'Common sense' - Pedestrian access for major Drogheda tourist attraction ruled out by Council
Louth County Council ruled out constructing a footbridge across the River Boyne after Labour councillor for Drogheda Pio Smith tabled a motion on the issue.
Drogheda councillors have expressed their frustrations after Louth County Council ruled out constructing a footbridge across the River Boyne.
Labour councillor Pio Smith tabled a motion before the May meeting of the Drogheda Borough District calling for the local authority to consider constructing a stand alone footbridge or one attached to the Obelisk Bridge at the site of the Battle of the Boyne.
However in a written response, David Jones, Director of Major Capital Projects and Infrastructure Delivery with Louth County Council ruled out the proposal due to "a number of constraints" that would "significantly impact on overall project feasibility".
Mr Jones said the bridge's location within a "Special Conservation Area, Special Area of High Scenic Quality" and also in "both a protected structure and a recorded National Monument thus prohibiting any physical alterations to the structure".
Cllr Smith expressed his dissatisfaction with the response calling it the Council's "default response".
While he acknowledged the points made by the Director, Cllr Smith questioned how there is a footbridge along other site such as the Giant's Causeway.
"The Giant’s Causeway and other places can do these things and invariably we get the response that there’s all these reasons why it can’t be considered. I just find it extraordinary. I could go on and on about it," he said.
The Labour councillor said he wanted to resubmit his motion in order to get a different answer.
"If it’s not going to be agreed today, then I’ll put in another motion and I’ll look for a different answer because I just don’t think that answer’s good enough," he said.
Mr Jones, who was also present at the meeting acknowledged the concerns of the councillors however, disagreed that it was the Council's default response.
"The opening statement acknowledges the rationale for the project and says the project has merit. But the response outlines that there are limiting factors to make that a reality."
"These factors would significantly impact the overall feasibility. It’s not saying that we won’t look at it, it’s not saying that it’ll never happen but it would be remiss of me to simply say it would be considered and then never looked at again," he said.
Sinn Féin councillor Eric O'Donovan said the project is a "no-brainer" and that it is "beggar's belief that there’s not serious accidents in that area".
While, Independent councillor Paddy McQuillan said carrying out works to the bridge would be "common sense" and said crossing it is "dodgy enough".
"People are using it in their hundreds on a weekly basis, after it being common sense, it’s a health issue. If you’re coming across that bridge and you’ve people walking on both sides as you’re driving over it, it’s dodgy enough," he said.
Mr Jones said even if a footbridge were to be built, there would be questions about the safety of such a project.
"Even if a footbridge was to be erected, it is heavily tied into the existing rural network, and how safe is that in terms of coming off into a safe space and a wider space," he said.
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.