What benefits will the Dart+ rail project really bring to Drogheda?

  

The looming demolition of the former Brady’s Drapery store building in Narrow West Street by Louth County Council would not be happening if Drogheda had its own city administration, the Drogheda City Status Group has said.

“This unforgiveable situation is a symptom of the rot and neglect of Drogheda caused by years of inaction and indifference by property owners and Louth County Council to the plight of our city,” Drogheda City Status Group (DCSG) Chairperson Anna McKenna said.

“With the bulldozers set to move in within days to demolish this fine 260-year-old building, we along with the citizens of Drogheda can only stand by and watch with despair and astonishment at just how far the neglect of this emerging city has been allowed to fester,” she said.

As counting continues in the local elections, DCSG has issued a blunt warning to the incoming councillors who will serve Drogheda for the next five years. 

“You must now take a stance, be firm and resolute, and stand with the people of Drogheda who say ‘no more’ to neglect, indecision and apathy. They want action, not words, as we do,” said Anna.

“Nothing short of a declaration that Drogheda is a city and the establishment of a city administration with its own city manager and directly elected representatives will rectify the appalling situation that has been allowed to develop over a long number of years,” said Anna.

“The incoming councillors must at the earliest opportunity call an emergency meeting to address the many issues that afflict Drogheda as it grows (faster than most other urban areas in the Irish State), and as an interim measure there is an urgent need for Louth County Council to appoint a Drogheda-based senior manager in charge of prioritising their response to dereliction and the risks to public safety and the local traders/economy.”

“It’s an utter shame on our local authority that the situation has allowed to get to this point. Enough is enough.”

Louth County Council is legally obliged to take action on the serious issue of dereliction. The Derelict Sites Act (1990) provides the power to local authorities to address derelict sites within their jurisdiction and to seek to have owners or occupiers take remedial action, or else to compulsorily acquire the property. There are scores of abandoned buildings in Drogheda, many of which have been highlighted by the Derelict Drogheda group, and a great deal of which are located on the main thoroughfare.

“Urgent action must now be taken to prevent a repeat of the situation in Narrow West Street in many other streets in our city.”

The expected razing of the Brady’s building to the ground within the coming days has led to the closure of Narrow West Street to vehicular and pedestrian traffic, and has directly impacted other businesses in the immediate vicinity.

“Those businesses have done nothing to deserve this, and are operating in an environment where costs have gone up and they are also paying rates to Louth County Council. They may well be wondering why they pay rates to a local authority that has shown not just neglect but contempt for Drogheda.”

“Sadly, the Narrow West Street saga is just the latest in a long history of wanton dereliction and destruction in Drogheda. Many residents will recall the bulldozing of ancient streets such as James’ Street, John Street, the Bull Ring and Dyer Street, not to mention the part-demolition of one of our oldest and most historic structures, the Butter Gate,” Anna said.

“People also remember painfully the fire at the derelict Donaghy’s Mill, and the middle-of-the-night demolition of the old Drogheda Grammar School. This kind of thing has been going on for decades.”

DCSG considers the situation in Narrow West Street to be a tipping point and a watershed moment. “Nothing less than immediate and urgent action to tackle Drogheda’s many challenges as it becomes a city will be acceptable. The rot must stop. We cannot and will not allow the abandonment and disregard of Drogheda to continue for another moment.”

“Drogheda will naturally become a city in the next few years as its population crosses the 50,000 threshold. Dereliction is just one of many challenges and deficiencies in the running of Drogheda by Louth County Council. Only a locally-based autonomous council will allow us to address these numerous challenges and the time for talking about it is past.”

The former Brady’s building is a noted architectural structure, and was originally a three-story town house, built around 1760, and later re-fronted around 1880.

Anna McKenna, Chairperson: 0863159920

Anthony Murphy, PRO: 0868335055