Louth councillors ask chief executive to meet residents over Ardee bypass concerns

Louth County Council Chief Executive Joan Martin has agreed to meet a small delegation of Ardee residents who say they will be affected by the plans for the Ardee bypass.

The issue was raised by both Cllr Colm Markey and Cllr Dolores Minogue at last week's Louth County Council monthly meeting. Cllr Markey said at the meeting that he and a number of other local representatives attended a public meeting held by a group of people who have concerns regarding access to Ardee following the development of the bypass.

Cllr Markey said that the group in no way want to stop the development of the bypass and are fully behind it, they are however concerned regarding access to the town once it is complete.

The group behind the meeting say their aim was “to raise awareness about the long term hardship the cul-de-sacs will cause for the local community”, as well as to “ put forward alternative open junction systems and to generate public support to help us influence Louth Co Co to amend the plan and still proceed with the plan to construct the by-pass.”

Following the meeting it was put to Cllr Markey to request a meeting with the County Manager and Louth County Council to outline their concerns.

Cllr Minogue at the meeting said that the bypass must go ahead but reiterated Cllr Markey's request for the Chief Executive to meet with the residents.

In response, Chief Executive Joan Martin said that she has had a large number of public representatives contact her regarding this.

She said that she would be willing to meet a small delegation of the residents to discuss their issues.