What is the Dunboyne and Clonee Pedestrian and Cycle Scheme?
The Dunboyne to Clonee Pedestrian and Cycle Scheme is a network of active travel routes, of approximately 17km in length, within and around the towns of Dunboyne and Clonee.
Meath County Council (MCC) is developing this active travel network, with the aim to provide high-quality, safe, continuous, and consistent cycle and pedestrian facilities across Dunboyne and Clonee.
The proposed network will improve pedestrian and cyclist safety and general accessibility and will facilitate local recreational usage along with functional access to schools, employment, amenities, and services.
Additionally, the proposed active travel network will facilitate linkage to other networks being developed in Fingal, enabling the creation of a cycle highway to Fingal and improving active travel access to employment areas there and further afield.
What is the purpose of this public consultation?
This public consultation aims to present the emerging preferred options for the network and to identify constraints and opportunities. The project team wish to present the outcomes of the options assessment and selection process so as to provide clarity on the rationale behind the emerging options.
The project team understand that some of the emerging options may raise concerns for some and they wish to engage through discussion with the relevant residents, businesses, stakeholders and the general public to understand these potential issues and concerns and to work with these individuals and groups to endeavour to develop a solution that can be acceptable to all parties and the scheme objectives.
Public consultation is also an important forum for the Project Team to pick up local knowledge on constraints and opportunities that may benefit the development and implementation of the Proposed Network.
This consultation is a non-statutory consultation.
What benefits can be expected from the scheme?
The proposed scheme will bring direct, safe, comfortable, attractive and legible access for all user ages and abilities to key amenities including links to shops, schools, sports clubs and other local facilities from numerous residential areas adjacent the proposed network.
The proposed network scheme is generally proposed to run within the existing road space and will improve the public realm through the use of high-quality materials and finishes.
The introduction of traffic management measures along with the improved public realm will help to improve safety by lowering vehicle speeds and volumes.
The proposed scheme will also improve permeability in the towns with the creation of the proposed routes along green areas.
How will the scheme be designed?
Generally, the scheme will be designed to the relevant Irish design standards such as the Cycle Design Manual (CDM 2023) and the Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets (DMURS 2019).
However, consideration of international best practice where appropriate will be advocated throughout the development and design process. The design team are constantly looking to best-in-class schemes constructed across the UK and Europe.
In addition, the design will be cognisant of the impacts on the environment, land and property, traffic flow, local issues, and feedback from the public to ensure that the completed scheme provides the best possible user experience.
Has the environmental impact been considered?
The environmental impact of the proposed network is as always a key consideration. A constraints study has been carried out in which a comprehensive review of the environmentally sensitive sites in the study area has been completed. Numerous environmental criteria have been assessed as part of the emerging preferred options selection process.
Environmental aspects will remain a key consideration during the preliminary design phase.
At Statutory Planning Phase appropriate Environmental Impact Assessment Screening Report, Appropriate Assessment Screening Report, Ecological Assessment along with a planning Report with environment chapters addressing ecology, people, traffic, air and noise will be undertaken and prepared to support any intended planning application.
How to I provide my feedback about the proposed scheme?
This Non-Statutory Public Consultation Display Period will run from the 29th of April to the 24th of May with Submissions accepted up to 12:00 noon on the 24th of May. Any submissions shall state your name, address and where relevant, the body or organisation represented. Submissions with respect to the proposed scheme can be made
- online through the Meath County Council Consult website, https://consult.meath.ie.
- By email to activetravel@meathcoco.ie with ‘Dunboyne and Clonee Pedestrian and Cycle Scheme Public Consultation’ in the subject line, or
- by post to Senior Executive Engineer, Transportation Department, Meath County Council, Buvinda House, Dublin Road Navan, County Meath, C15 Y291.
If you have other or further questions, visit the project webpage at https://bit.ly/DunboyneAndClonee-PAndS for more information.