"Pressure cooker" - Calls for urgent changes to M1 Retail Park exits

Councillors have called on Louth County Council to make changes to the traffic system at the M1 Retail Park in Drogheda amid reports of major congestion. 

Independent councillor Declan Power told the January meeting of Drogheda Borough District of long delays faced by shoppers over the festive period. 

Cllr Power said the area was "choc-a-block" and said the retail park needs another entrance and exit. 

He said councillors had previously raised concerns about the opening of a new Tesco store in the park and called for Louth County Council to engage with the the retail park's management. 

"We've raised this on a number of occasions, and we knew that the Tesco was going to cause some problems."

"We're pushing people out of town centres, out to retail parks, and it's going to take away from the retail experience," he said. 

Mark Johnston, Senior Engineer with Louth County Council said there had been communication with the management at the retail park.

He agreed that "some sort of modification" was needed to the park's entrance, and earmarked a potential exit on to the N51 as a possible solution. 

However, he said the entrance to the retail park is not the only issue causing congestion, and said the Rosehall roundabout also leads to significant traffic during the evening rush hour. 

"Whatever we do, it has to be not just a wider entrance onto the North Road, but something different in terms of layout," Mr Johnston said. 

Sinn Féin councillor Eric O'Donovan said it was "music to my ears" to hear there had been engagement with Retail Park management.

He said it had reached "crisis point" and said one local mother took 52 minutes to get out of the park, having collected her two children before saying "it's not good enough". 

"If you look at Donore Retail Park, and look at why that's so successful is because it flows so well. There's several exits and it keeps up the flow."

"But when you have just one exit, one way in and one way out. It's obviously going to be a pressure cooker," he said. 

Cllr O'Donovan also called for Louth County Council to engage with the National Transport Authority about the possibility of the Monaghan to Navan bus servicing the retail park. 

Mayor of Drogheda Michelle Hall said the congestion at the retail park is "absolutely ridiculous" and said the construction of footpaths and cycle lanes would help people who don't have to bring their car. 

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.