Call grows to avoid ‘serious accident’ to pedestrians at Meath’s new Applegreen
Safety concerns for pedestrians near the newly opened Applegreen service station in Dunshaughlin, Co Meath, were raised at the October meeting of the Ratoath Municipal District.
Councillors voiced frustration over the lack of a footpath and pedestrian crossing at the site.
Independent Cllr Brian Fitzgerald said: “Something would have to be done before there was a serious accident at that location.”
He described it as a “pity” that certain safety issues were not considered when planning permission for Applegreen was granted.
Cllr Gerry O’Connor noted that the entrance to Applegreen had originally been intended to be on the relief road.
“What we have now is an entrance halfway between two roundabouts, with vehicles coming out being forced to turn left. They wouldn’t have to do that if the entrance had been put where it was initially meant to be,” he said.
The new service station, located off Junction 6 on the M3, includes a Taco Bell restaurant and has become a popular stop for motorists. Councillors were all in agreement that "urgent action” is needed to ensure pedestrian safety at the busy site.
Cllr Fionnan Blake, who had previously raised concerns, described the situation as “unbelievable,” stressing that a footpath was urgently required.
Cllr Yvonne Everard echoed the call, saying: “The installation of a footpath should have been included in the planning permission for Applegreen. A footpath is needed here and it should have been put in as one of the conditions. These things must be attended to, and more consistency is needed in planning.”
Cllr Nick Killian added that Applegreen attracts not only drivers from Dunshaughlin but also people from Ratoath visiting Taco Bell, which opened at the location on last month.
He warned that if a fatality were to occur, “responsibility would rest with the council’s planning section, not the councillors.”
Cllr Fitzgerald suggested a phased approach to improving safety, starting with a pedestrian crossing.
“People could then at least walk on one side of the hard shoulder.”
He added: “There is a problem and we want a solution to that problem.”