It’s been a long time coming but Louth County Council are finally at the stage where they are in a position to submit a planning application for the much heralded Westgate Vision Plan.
After a presentation to Drogheda Councillors at Monday’s Borough District meeting it is expected that the Council will now apply for funding from the Government’s Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF).
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O’Brien, told local Deputy Fergus O’Dowd in the Dail that the Environmental reports which are required are being prepared in parallel with the final design for a submission to An Bord Pleanála in Q3 2022.
Deputy O’Dowd said: “It has been a very long road to this point since the government approved €476,000 in 2018 to Louth County Council.
“Whilst this is welcome news I’m frustrated as the project has encountered avoidable delays at council level and I believe those delays have held back Drogheda’s town centre from much needed development and investment at a critical juncture.
“The Westgate Vision has the ability to completely transform the Westgate area of town which remains littered with appalling dereliction and is one which I have persistently campaigned for since its launch in 2018.
“We are all aware of the significant issues with dereliction in this particular part of the town, the Westgate Plan provides a clear path to regenerate the West side of the town and make it a much more accessible and attractive area.
“There is so much to be positive about in Drogheda that will complement the Westgate Vision” he added, referring to the new Destination Town and Urban Animation Plans, the Active Travel works on the St Dominic’s Bridge and the regeneration plans for St Dominic’s Park and we also had recent confirmation that the long awaited works at the Mell Greenway are due to be completed in 2022.”
“All of these works will help rejuvenate the town centre and bring more footfall and business to our historic town.”
