The Drogheda Vacancy and Dereliction Task Force has welcomed the awarding of funding under the THRIVE (Town Centre First Heritage Revival Scheme) for works on West Gate House and the adjoining site at the entrance to Narrow West Street.
The group, which has long campaigned for action on vacancy and dereliction in Drogheda, described the announcement as “long overdue good news” for the town.
While acknowledging the positive step forward, the Task Force also stressed that the project belongs to the entire community. “Every win for Drogheda is a win for every citizen,” the group said, warning against using the funding as a platform for political point-scoring.
Special praise was given to Louth County Council’s Public Realm team, with Terry Hamilton and Cllr. Pio Smith singled out for their efforts in driving the project forward.
The Task Force expressed hope that the regeneration of West Gate House will mark the beginning of a wider pipeline of initiatives to restore the historic core of Drogheda.
In particular, they welcomed the inclusion of the old town wall in the development, describing it as a long overdue recognition of its importance to the town’s heritage.
However, the group also raised concerns about the overall cost of the West Gate House project, suggesting that earlier, more proactive maintenance might have prevented the building’s deterioration and reduced the eventual restoration bill.
They urged the council to apply “lessons learned” from this case to other at-risk buildings, highlighting the potential of “Meanwhile Use” to keep structures active and maintained.
The Task Force further called for private property owners in the West Gate Quarter to play their part in revitalising the area, alongside the council-led initiatives.
At a national level, the group reiterated its call for reform of the outdated 1990 Derelict Sites Act, arguing that levy collection should be managed by Revenue and that the costly Compulsory Purchase Order system should be replaced with the Scottish model of Compulsory Sales Orders.
For Drogheda specifically, they called on government to include the town in the Living Cities Initiative to support the revitalisation of its centre. “The government could do this at the stroke of a pen,” the group said. “We ask why they haven’t?”
