Problem
Meath County Council are proposing to knock the old stone wall(part of Athlumney castle) on Convent Road along with 22 mature and healthy trees in order to facilitate a cycle network between Athlumney and the Trim road. The works on convent road, cross through three zones of notification as there is a National monument (Athlumney Castle) and two recorded monuments on the road. The archaeology report provided by external consultants for the council has been described as ‘fatally flawed’ and this area is an area that is of huge Archaeological interest.

Solution
Along the proposed cycle network route planned, there are zones where a cycle lane is being provided as a shared space with motorists. These zones are in fact busier with traffic as the part of convent road affected is a one way road. A cycle lane can be achieved by applying the same ‘shared space’ principle for this stretch where they are proposing to knock the old wall and mature trees.

Personal story
The Save Navan Town Heritage group are a group of local residents, local historians and archaeologists who have a shared interest in the area and maintaining the aesthetics of the old convent road. We feel that decisions are being made by the council that are not best for the heritage of the town or what people want to see done in the town.