Walkway straddling Louth and Meath border needs repair, says Drogheda councillor

By Olivia Ryan, The Drogheda Independent

A key pedestrian route linking residential areas in Louth and Meath must be maintained to ensure access for local people, the recent meeting of Drogheda Borough District heard.

McEvoy’s Lane in Drogheda made headlines last month when local residents highlighted damage to the walkway from construction machinery.

The laneway provides an important walking link between Lagavooren Manor, Avourwen and Rosevale and the Platin Road, and has been used by local residents for many years as a key pedestrian route between housing estates and nearby amenities.

Speaking at the January meeting of Drogheda Borough District, Cllr. James Byrne called for the local authority to link in with Meath County Council “to agree on a maintenance and improvement schedule to McEvoy’s Lane, straddling the county border between Rosevale and Elmwood.”

He told the meeting that a schedule was needed in order to “enhance access for all who use it as a means of getting to and from local schools and sporting clubs.”

In a written response David Hanratty, Operations and Environment Delivery at Louth County Council said: “The operations section of Louth County Council have an excellent working relationship with our colleagues in Meath County Council, particularly on areas such as this, which cross the county border interface,”

He confirmed that they had been in contact with the local authority in Meath about McEvoy’s Lane.

"The area directly below and adjacent to the railway bridge is the responsibility of Irish Rail and the operations team will contact them directly to progress a maintenance plan for this area.”