Residents living in the Meath side of Drogheda have launched a petition calling for urgent action from Meath County Council, citing years of neglect, poor infrastructure, and a lack of accountability.
The petition, started by local resident Paul Reidy, highlights how Drogheda — Ireland’s largest town — suffers from a unique governance problem, being split between two local authorities. While Louth County Council has made some progress in addressing issues on its side of the town, residents in South West Drogheda say they feel ignored by Meath.
Mr. Reidy pointed to long-standing problems in areas such as Platin Road and Beamore Road, where roads and footpaths are described as “either non-existent or highly unsuitable” for such a heavily populated part of the town.
He said residents are facing daily dangers from speeding cars, a lack of traffic calming measures, potholes, mud tracks instead of proper footpaths, no cycle lanes or pedestrian crossings, and poor road markings.
“People are sick and tired of the stress this is causing, as well as the danger it is putting drivers, cyclists and pedestrians in,” he said.
The petition also accuses Meath County Council of relying on development plans that never materialise, often passing responsibility to developers.
One example cited is Avourwen, a large development by Manley Developments which began over 20 years ago but remains incomplete.
“Surely infrastructure should come before the housing and people, not years later?” Mr. Reidy added, pointing to how Louth County Council and the NTA delivered a major new road north of the town before further housing was built.
Local frustration is compounded by the fact that Drogheda is not the largest town in either county, meaning it is often overshadowed by Dundalk in Louth and Navan in Meath when it comes to funding and attention.
Residents are also angry that they continue to pay property tax while seeing little return. Previous protests, such as one by Deep Forde estate residents to secure a pedestrian crossing on the Dublin Road, show that communities have had to fight for even basic safety measures.
“This dismissal in Meath has been going on for years, and yet nothing has improved,” the petition reads.
Campaigners hope that if Meath councillors do not take action, the national Government might intervene to address what they describe as “something very wrong in the dual governance of Ireland’s largest town.”
The petition can be viewed and signed here: https://chng.it/SRbGrfmMZN
