By Andy Spearman
It seems inconceivable to me that, four years after a section of the Boyne boardwalk at Oldbridge was burned by an arsonist in July 2018, it has still not been fully repaired.
Just days after the fire destroyed a 150 metre section of the boardwalk the Mayor of the day Frank Godfrey was calling on Meath County Council to pull out all the stops to ensure the pathway was repaired before the Fleadh in August of that year.
Councillor Paul Bell also got in touch with Meath County Council and was told that their insurers would pay for the repair of the boardwalk.
“I can confirm that the boardwalk is Council property and therefore covered under the Irish Public Bodies insurance” he said.
“… it is my clear understanding that the replacement of the valued community amenity will be fully covered” he told Drogheda Life at the time.
In May of this year Drogheda Life asked Meath County Council for an update on the repairs and they responded:
“Following the incident, the Municipal District carried out temporary repairs, to a value of approximately €20,000. It is important to note that approximately half of these costs were covered by a Go-Fund Me campaign organised by the Boyneside Trail Ltd. group. The repairs carried out ensured that the walkway could be opened to the public again.
“While Meath County Council are investigating alternative solutions to this temporary surface, no further funding has been secured to allow Meath County Council re-instate the Boardwalk to the pre-attack condition.”
Local Deputy Fergus O’Dowd also made enquiries to Meath County Council about the situation regarding the repair of the boardwalk and earlier today he received the exactly the same response from Meath County Council:
Please note, for information, the fire in question took place in August 2018. Following the incident, the Municipal District carried out temporary repairs, to a value of approximately €20,000.
“It is important to note that approximately half of these costs were covered by a Go-Fund Me campaign organised by the Boyneside Trail Ltd. group. The repairs carried out ensured that the walkway could be opened to the public again.
“While Meath County Council are investigating alternative solutions to this temporary surface, no further funding has been secured to allow Meath County Council re-instate the Boardwalk to the pre-attack condition.”
So, apart from giving excuses, nothing has actually happened for almost four years.
