With the Local and European elections just days away, the Drogheda City Status Group (DCSG) has again urged voters to consider carefully which candidates can deliver the best future outcome for Drogheda; South Louth and East Meath.
“We in DCSG are very concerned at the lack of planning to transition Drogheda from being Ireland’s largest town into the country’s youngest city” said the group’s Chairperson Anna McKenna.
“There is a complete lack of senior local authority management in Drogheda and we lack the autonomy to make key local decisions since the Borough Council was abolished” she continued.
“The Government needs to urgently address this democratic deficit, and we have already met with An Taoiseach to discuss the need for Government to create a High Level Taskforce to facilitate this.”
At this stage, DCSG believe that public representatives both locally and nationally should be familiar with the opportunities and challenges facing the Greater Drogheda area.
“Now, it’s time for action,” said Anna, adding “the Joint Area Local Plan (JLAP) being developed by Louth and Meath County Councils is a start, but it needs to be radical and comprehensive to effect change.
“The JLAP has a very limited geographical focus and doesn’t include – for example – coastal East Meath, Donore or Duleek or areas such as Tullyallen and Termonfeckin to the north. In the heart of Drogheda, the retail offering has suffered as a result of decisions and policies implemented by those Local Authorities.
“The fabric and character of the centre of Drogheda has deteriorated, and Louth County Council itself has contributed to the dereliction where it is at its worst – in Narrow West Street.
“Government has failed to provide a suitable Living over the Shop scheme for Drogheda which would respond to the current housing crisis; create employment for smaller builders and tradespeople and leave a lower carbon footprint than new housing as well as breathing new life into the centre.”
“Our incoming councillors must get working on this neglect from a standing start and they can be assured of our engagement, support and encouragement. From “the get go,” there are key issues to be addressed by the incoming Drogheda councillors, such as ensuring that one of the two County Louth representatives appointed to the Eastern & Midlands Regional Authority is a Drogheda councillor, as currently Drogheda is not represented on this key forum.
“The lack of local employment leading to a daily exodus of commuters must be tackled asap and the incoming councillors need to demand regular updates from the IDA; Enterprise Ireland and local authority economic development staff, as well as identifying more suitable land locally for enterprise than some of what is listed in the Louth County Development Plan.
“They must choose the new Mayor carefully too – someone with the competence and commitment to professionally showcase Drogheda to all comers. Finally, they must follow through on what members of the Borough Council declared over a decade ago – that henceforth, Drogheda should be referred to as the City of Drogheda.”
