Drogheda Mayor criticises Minister for Transport amid fresh calls for removal of M1 toll

Mayor of Drogheda, Michelle Hall has criticised Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien as fresh calls have been made for the removal of the M1 toll. 

It comes after Fianna Fáil councillor James Byrne put forward a motion at the Borough District of Drogheda's monthly meeting for the council to engage with the Minister on the issue. 

Cllr Byrne called for the toll to be removed and said it makes the town "less attractive and less viable", while comparing it to a "noose around the neck" of the town. 

He said the issue, which received unanimous support from Drogheda's councillors is "above party politics" and said he hopes to meet with the minister to discuss the matter. 

Mayor Hall welcomed the motion, but criticised Minister O'Brien, saying "the minister is not someone who follows through for Drogheda". 

Independent councillor Kevin Callan called the motion "extremely timely" and and said removing the toll would benefit business in the town. 

Cllr Callan also criticised the decision not to lift the toll in the aftermath of a five-car collision on the M1 outside Drogheda on December 19th, in which a woman in her 80s died. 

He said he sat in the subsequent gridlock for four and a half hours after the crash. 

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Labour councillor Pio Smith called on the government to buyout the remainder of the thirty-year  M1 Public Private Partnership (PPP) contract, which is due to expire in early 2034. 

Independent councillor Declan Power said the people of Drogheda "should not have to pay for national infrastructure".

While, Sinn Féin councillors Debbie McCole and Eric O'Donovan both supported the motion, with Cllr McCole saying the removal of the toll would "clear our streets of gridlock", and Cllr O'Donovan saying it would allow Drogheda to flourish. 

Independent councillor Paddy McQuillan welcomed the motion and said this is an issue that "everybody in Drogheda supports". 

Charges for cars passing through the toll increased by ten cents to €2.30 from January 1st this year. 

Thomas McEvoy, Director of Services with Louth County Council said it will write to the Minister for Transport to highlight the views of the councillors outlined in the motion. 

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.