Labour Councillor Michelle Hall has received a guarded response from Louth County Council to two issues she raised at the April Drogheda Borough meeting.

Cllr. Hall called on the Council to provide safe pedestrian crossing and traffic calming solutions at the junction of Big St (R166) and Castlecoo Hill Road, Termonfeckin. 

"It's extremely difficult for pedestrians and wheelchair users to cross towards Sunhill without having to make detours as there's no safe and direct route across this busy junction” she said.

“Residents along Slate Row and carers or families of residents in Sunhill Nursing Home are especially affected by the lack of a pedestrian crossing and speed of cars coming from Castlecoo Hill. It's also a dangerous junction for motorists with many drivers failing to stop in a timely manner or at all.

“I would like to see the council realign the junction, propose a pedestrian crossing area and install speed cushions to slow traffic down", Cllr Hall stated.

In response, the Council’s Director of Services, David Jones said that the location will be assessed to determine the need for traffic calming solutions, and if deemed necessary, will be considered for future Low-Cost Safety Measures/Traffic Calming measures. 

Cllr Michelle Hall’s second motion was to request Louth County Council to provide outdoor showers and swimming infrastructure at Clogherhead and Termonfeckin for sea swimmers.

"Outdoor swimming provides an opportunity for individuals of all ages and backgrounds to improve their physical and mental health and well-being. These efforts are an important step in our aim of achieving the Healthy Ireland vision of a more active Ireland," she said.

"Since the global pandemic there has been an explosion in sea swimming, myself included. At the weekends, many football clubs train on Termonfeckin beach and cool down by a dip in the Irish Sea. Every day there are groups of swimmers in Clogherhead.

All have been crying out for the type of showers and changing areas that many beaches have now such as Bettystown. I would like to see LCC roll out infrastructure in both beaches, not just one. It's a simple cost but makes a huge impact for locals and attracting tourists. The council have heavily invested in the SeaLouth brand so accessibility and amenities need to match the promotion of a coastal county, " Cllr Hall concluded.

Replying on behalf of Louth County Council, Director of Services for Placemaking and Physical Development, David Jones, said that accessibility improvements will shortly be carried out at both Port and Templeton beaches and that the Council is committed to further enhancing the beach amenities in the County, and leverage funding from the appropriate funding streams where possible.

“In this context, an assessment of possible swimming infrastructure on Louth’s blue flag beaches will be implemented, which will form the basis for exploring funding opportunities to improve beach and swimming infrastructure.”