Mayor of Drogheda, Cllr Declan Power, pictured at Scarlet Crescent, where he has raised concerns about accessibility, parking, and emergency access.
Mayor of Drogheda Cllr Declan Power has called for urgent action at Scarlet Crescent, raising concerns over accessibility, parking and emergency access at the Drogheda estate.
Cllr Power raised the issue at the November Borough District meeting and has called on Louth County Council to carry out a full audit of the area and develop an improvement plan.
He said residents and elected representatives have raised concerns about conditions in Scarlet Crescent for more than two decades and claimed that commitments made four years ago to improve footpaths and community squares have yet to result in meaningful progress.
Scarlet Crescent has been forgotten for far too long, he said.
Residents have listened to commitments, attended meetings and raised concerns for decades, yet very little has changed. That is simply not good enough.
Concerns over emergency access
Cllr Power said one of his main concerns is access for emergency vehicles within parts of the estate.
We have reached a point where this is no longer simply an inconvenience, it is a health and safety issue, he said.
Residents have told me of instances where ambulance personnel had to carry patients more than 30 metres by stretcher because emergency vehicles could not access parts of the estate. That should never happen in 2026
He said residents had also told him about difficulties when hearses needed to access some homes.
Residents have told me that when neighbours have passed away, coffins had to be carried considerable distances because hearses could not reach some of the homes,” he said.
There is no dignity in that. No family should have to endure such circumstances.”
Accessibility concerns
Cllr Power said he had also witnessed difficulties faced by older residents during a recent visit to Scarlet Crescent.
I saw an elderly resident struggling with a mobility frame, struggling up steps and a steep incline just to reach the street, he said.
It was a stark reminder that the estate simply does not meet the needs of an ageing population.
He said many residents have lived in the area for decades.
This is a proud, close-knit community. Many residents have lived here for 50 years or more.
They deserve an estate that allows them to age with dignity, independence and safety, not one that presents obstacles at every turn.
Parking pressures
Cllr Power also raised concerns about parking at Scarlet Crescent, saying many residents have to park some distance from their homes.
He said non-residential parking is adding to pressure on the spaces available and cited one resident who reported having to park on Scarlet Street, pay for parking and then walk back to her home.
The Mayor has now called on Louth County Council to undertake a full audit of Scarlet Crescent, covering footpaths, community spaces, parking, accessibility and emergency access.
Scarlet Crescent has become the forgotten estate in the heart of our town, he said.
Residents have waited patiently for far too long. We need immediate measures to address the most urgent concerns, but we also need a clear and funded long-term plan.
The people of Scarlet Crescent deserve the same standard of infrastructure, accessibility and quality of life as every other community in Drogheda. As Mayor, I intend to ensure their voices are finally heard.
