Call for new bus stop at one of Louth’s busiest retail parks

By Olivia Ryan, The Drogheda Independent

Drogheda councillors are to write to the National Transport Authority (NTA) to request a new bus stop for passengers accessing the M1 Retail Park.

Councillor Eric Donovan told the meeting that he had been contacted by many people asking for a stop at the retail park, and highlighted the case of one worker, who was on minimum wage, and could not afford taxis when lifts from family were unavailable.

He submitted a motion to the September meeting of the Borough District, asking for the council to write to Bus Éireann “to request that the 182 bus from Monaghan to Navan include an extra stop in the Drogheda rural route.

"The request is that the bus which picks up in Tullyallen every two hours will include a stop at the M1 Retail Park, which it drives very close to, and has the infrastructure to do so.”

He said the additional stop would be of huge benefit to the people of Tullyallen, which is one of the largest constituencies close to the retail park.

"Local people visit the retail park regularly both to work and to shop and to keep fit at the gym. There is also a new Tesco opening, and when it does there is going to be a huge increase in the number of vehicles and in footfall.”

He asked that the council write to Bus Éireann, on behalf of all of members to ask for the additional stop.

Mayor Michelle Hall agreed they would write to the National Transport Authority on behalf of councillors about the request.

Cllr. Pio Smith supported the motion, saying that from 4pm to 6pm every day it was a “very busy area with traffic”. He added that if an extra bus stop helped to reduce traffic “it definitely makes sense.”

Cllr. Paddy McQuillan added his support, saying that councillors should make the request. However, he pointed out that with an extra bus stop this might involve a change in work practices for drivers.

Mayor Hall pointed out that with timetables out in September, it may be another year before this could be changed, but agreed with the motion, saying: “public transport is the way to go.”