Julianstown

Roadworks

2007-01-01T15:50:00.000Z

Read this article. Most of the big road schemes in Ireland this year will cater for fractions of the Julianstown traffic. The Arklow/Gorey bypass will take 10,000 cars. What about the 22,000 vehicles in Julianstown every day?

Massive Development for Drogheda-Traffic Chaos for Julianstown?

2006-12-12T18:36:00.000Z

This article in Sundays Business Post reveals details of the Bryanstown development for South Drogheda. Houses for 12,000 people, a 10,000 seater Drogheda Utd. Stadium and 300,000 sw ft of office space.

Great, but where is all the traffic to go? Theoretically through the new N1/M1 link road. Realistically, via Julianstown on the shorter, toll free route.

It can be done

2006-12-12T12:08:00.000Z

It can be done. Trucks can be banned from towns and villages in Meath. This Meath Chronicle article has the details (sub required).

ENFIELD is set to become the first town in the country to ban heavy goods vehicles when bye-laws to introduce a three-tonne weight restriction come into effect on 11th December.

Hope our local councillors will follow suit and ban HGV's in Julianstown.

Broadband is Definitely on the Way

2006-10-25T16:48:00.000+01:00

I just received the following from Eircom's head of communications, regarding comments on the previous post.

Dear Fred,

The good news is that Julianstown is on the list we announced last week. No further details are available this time as to when the work will be completed. The schedules have not been finalised, however it is unlikely that it will be before spring.

I can't explain why the agent said that it was not on the list. However, usually agents are briefed only to confirm locations and sites that have been broadband enabled and are operational.

Kind Regards,

Paul

Paul Bradley
Head of Communications
eircom

Traffic Volume Continues to Rise but less HGVs

2006-10-23T12:50:00.000+01:00

A mixture of good and bad news on the traffic front. Over all traffic volumes are still rising at almost 3% per year, but it appears that HGV volumes are falling. The latest NRA figures show slight increases in total volume compared to last year. But the good news is that HGV volumes are on average down to 1000/day. Overall traffic volumes are still in the 21,000-22,000 region. 1000 a day is still a lot, but at least the trend is down.

Factors which may have influenced this, well there has been a slow down in new house completion in the area, so presumably the population has increased at a slower rate than in recent years. However this appears to be a temporary blip as local authorities are predicitng a doubling of the greater Drogheda area population.

The Drogheda port also lost a major contract from Norfolk and Geest which significantly contributed to HGV volume to the port. That and the chronic Drogheda traffic might explain the drop in truck volume.

This chart has more details. You can see the big drop after the M1 opened and steady rise since then

FG candidate comments on area traffic

2006-10-20T17:51:00.000+01:00

Shane McEntee comments on Julianstown truck problems

DSL Broadband for Julianstown in 2007

2006-10-19T14:05:00.000+01:00

Press release from Eircom. Says 100 more exchanges to be enabled in 2007.
This Blogger says Julianstown is one of them.

Julianstown Badminton Club

2006-10-08T11:11:00.000+01:00

The local badminton club has posted some information on Julianstown.Com
Check out http://www.julianstown.com/badminton.htm and add this to your bookmarks.

Fermoy bypassed

2006-10-02T13:06:00.000+01:00

Martin Cullen opens the Fermoy bypass. Isn't he great! Says it will take 17,000 cars out of Fermoy, Watergrasshill and Rathcormac. According to NRA, that's almost all the traffic. He should come up here to Julianstown, we've got 22,000 vehicles per day to dispose off.

You know they started bypassing the towns on the road to Cork 20 years ago, and after each bypass opened the traffic just got worse further along. Naas-Newbridge-Kildare-Monastrevin-Abbeyleix-
Durrow-Urlingford-Johnstown-Mitchelstown-Rathcormac-
Fermoy-Watergrasshill. If they'd just built a road from Dublin to Cork it would have taken 2-5 years and cost 10 times less, and we'd have it now.

What gives.

Julianstown Road Works

2006-09-28T22:53:00.000+01:00

After a year and a half Julianstown road improvements and traffic calming will begin in the next couple of weeks. Word is though that because the County Council took so long to do the work, they have had to cut back on what they originally planned.

Residents Assoc AGM

2006-09-28T22:47:00.000+01:00

All residents. The residents' association takes place Tuesday October 24 at 8.00PM in the Church of Ireland Parish Rooms.

Items to be covered:

Report on year's activities,
Election of new committee
Discussion of local issues

If you care about Julianstown please attend

email: residents@julianstown.com
Phone 087 1316023

Fireplace Wanted

2006-09-22T22:36:00.000+01:00

Looking to buy a second hand Mahogony fireplace if anyone is replacing there fireplace with a new one. My email address is tsparkle@hotmail.com.

Thank you

Bridget

Laytown School

2006-08-27T17:23:00.000+01:00

I guess everyone in the area has been following the Laytown School story. There was an extensive piece in yesterdays Irish Times and even today the "This Week" program had an extensive piece (listen) .

I had to admire the articulate way the parents interviewed expressed themselves and what they said not only goes for Laytown but also for Julianstown with terrible traffic, no new infrastructure or amenities, and nobody seemingly able or willing to do anything about it.

I also got the Draft Planning Strategy for the Greater Drogheda Area which is supposed to be the blueprint for the area for the next 20 years or so. It pointed out that there enough zoned land in the region to to treble the size of Drogheda and double the population of the East Meath area, bringing the area population to over 130,000 people.

There is nothing in this plan to accommodate traffic heading south, most of which travels through Julianstown. While the plan envisages an "M1/N1" connector road along the route of the existing Beamore Road, it is doubtful that it would be the route of choice for traffic heading to Dublin since it is 60% longer in distane and is tolled. Even worse the route will not be finished for another 10 years, by which time there will be another 50% more people living in the area and no doubt driving through Julianstown everyday.

What's worse there is a proposal to build an eastern route around Drogheda over a new bridge, amking it much easier for traffic from Dorgheda's North side to avoid tolls and drive through Julianstown.

I would urge readers to look at the plan and make a submission.

Julianstown

2006-08-22T23:20:00.000+01:00

Went for a walk in Julianstown tonight and here's what I noticed.

Trucks tailgating cars
Trucks and cars speeding
Litter
When you walk throuh Ballygarth Manor many of the houses lights come on automatically

Julianstown traffic continues to rise

2006-08-05T18:17:00.000+01:00

The NRA recently yet again reported record traffic volumes in Julianstown. The traffic volumes for April through June were recently published showing that on average 21000 vehicles per day are using Julianstown. Yet again these are record numbers since the M1 opened. In reality the traffic volume in Julianstown has dropped very little since the motor way opened.

This quoted volumes are only an average and on weekdays the numbers are exceeding 22000. Added to this is the fact that there are plans in preparation for thousands of houses in the South Drogheda and Laytown areas and outlook is bleak

This data is released in the week that Mullingar got a new bypass to cater for less than 5000 vehicles to much media fanfare and ministerial cutting of tape.

German Solution to Irish Problem

2006-08-05T18:02:00.000+01:00

Just back from hols in Germany. Now there is a civilised country. Things that stood out. Lots of playgrounds/parks....everywhere. Most things about half the cost of Ireland. People do drive at 120mph on motorways but obey speed limits on minor roads, and especially in residential areas.

And oh yes, roads go past villages and not through them. Even when a road does enter a village they all have a little chicane which slows traffic down, it's very simple and effective, not like to "gateways" we have in our towns including Julianstown, which can be taken at speed. Trucks can take, them....but slowly.

Here's a photo.
The funny thing is we are a richer country than Germany, so we should be able to do this, right?

Julianstown Shines in Pride of Place

2006-07-24T20:32:00.000+01:00

All credit to Julianstown Residents Association. Last Thursday two judges came from the all-Ireland Pride of Place organisation to spend 3 hours in the area judging the village. Julianstown was one of only four entries especially selected by Meath County Council to participate.

More than 50 people turned out on a Sunny morning and were joined by local councilors and representatives from local and voluntary groups. The judges were treated to a presentation on the history and outlook for Julianstown.

Many locals made contributions from the floor, highlighting community projects and pointing out some of their concerns. It was ironic that in researching the history of the residents association which started in 1974 that one of the first items on the agenda was traffic and speeding in the village. Plus ca change as they say in France.

1300 more homes in Laytown = 2000 more cars in Julianstown

2006-07-24T20:24:00.000+01:00

Plans were submitted this week to develop an "eco-residential village" near Laytown railway station. I'm darned if I know what that is or if an eco non-residential village would be better. Anyway that's a shed load of houses and the development is sure to rival Grangerath for size.

While the development is bound to be the shining light in eco-friendliness making us feel all warm and fuzzy inside, adding an extra 2000 vehicles to Julianstown chronic traffic is as far from eco as you can get. As we have tirelessly pointed out Julianstown now caters for 22,000 vehicles per day on weekdays and not much less than that on the weekend. The growth rate sits around 5%/year.

Dominic Hannigan has something to say here

Anyway for what it's worth you can view the plan in Duleek and make submissions before September

Nice Comments

2006-07-10T18:24:00.000+01:00

Via Email....

Dear Julianstown residents,
Thank you for your website there should be more of it.
As an Australian lover of everything Irish I look at your website and wish I was back in your wonderful land. I must have travelled past your village a number of times but I have never visited. I have been to Drogheda, Slane ,Newgrange and up and down the Boyne. Next time it's Julianstown. I was initially attracted to your village because I have a son called Julian. The last time I spent any length of time in Ireland I picked a place at random on the map and went there to have a good look. On that occasion the village was Rathangan near Kildare, before that it was Doolin on the west coast and the first place was Crookhaven down in the far south west. Had a great time at all these locations.

I live in Box Hill, a suburb of Melbourne. If anybody is interested at looking at places on Google Earth then you can see my house at 37deg 48min 55.17sec South and 145deg 08min 17.19 sec East.

Hear is the website of our local municipality. www.whitehorse.vic.gov.au/

Until my next visit.
Cheers

David Castles

There is somewhere worse than Julianstown

2006-06-21T18:52:00.000+01:00

Thought Julianstown was bad for traffic? Well think again. Despite 22000+ vehicles per day in Julianstown, there is actually a town far worse than us. Just saw on the news that Claregalway in Co. Galway has to contend with 35000 vehicles per day and the commensurate 3 mile tail backs. Locals appeared on the news to complain about the reduction in quality of life and the fact that no one wants to visit or do business there.

Sounds familiar!

Also in familiar tones the NRA declares that there are no plans to bypass this traffic hell hole. The Claregalwegians can't understand why minor towns such as Edgeworthstown or Castleblaney can get a bypass for a fraction of the traffic volumes while they suffer.

All sounds familiar.

Also nice to see they have a village website

Link to RTE report
ClareGalway Website

Julianstown: Locals Only?

2006-05-10T20:10:00.000+01:00

It was reported in the Drogheda Independent today that Meath County Council is considering requiring new houses in Julianstown to be bought by locals only. Locals being people who were born and rared or have lived in the area for more than 10 years.

The motivation for this proposal to affect Julianstown, Mornington, Donore and Gormanston is to limit the growth of these villages in favour of larger urban areas such as Drogheda and Laytown/Bettystown.

No doubt this will limit the available market for new builds and also put a premium on existing houses. Can't see any holder of zoned land being too happy with it. Already in many parts of the country there exists a "local needs" requirement for one off houses. (Sometimes quoted as "locals need only apply). There are also some language requirements for developments in Gaeltacht areas.

It is hard to see the imposition of a locals only rule being constitutional or in line with EU law and while the one-off local rule still exists, it does not seem to have been challenged. This situation might change if the proposed rule is adopted by the Council and we could see people with a lot to lose taking on the council.

Freecycle: Give away stuff you don't need

2006-04-29T17:59:00.000+01:00

I cam accross this site, it's pretty cool

LeinsterFreecycle : Part of the Freecycle Network(TM)

The Leinster Freecycle(TM) Network is open to all who want to "recycle" that special something rather than throw it away. Whether it's a chair, a fax machine, piano or an old door, feel free to post it. Or maybe you're looking to acquire something yourself! Nonprofit groups are welcome to participate too!

One constraint: everything posted must be free. This network is brought to you by The Freecycle Network, a nonprofit organization and a movement of people interested in keeping good stuff out of landfills. Check out freecycle.org for other cities and info on the movement! E-mail LeinsterFreecycle-owner@yahoogroups.com for questions or improvement ideas!

And have fun and keep on recycling with Freecycle!

Village Clean Up To Begin May 20

2006-04-29T09:34:00.000+01:00

Make a note in your diary. Volunteers are need to help clean up Julianstown. As you know, last year we competed in and were prize winners in Meath's Pride of Place competition. This year we are going to double our efforts to improve Julianstown.

Meeting at the school at 10:00AM on Saturday May 20th please bring appropriate tools and equipment. There will be a lunch provided.

Keep an eye out for the residents' association newsletter which will be distributed next week with more details. See you all then.

Julianstown Wins Litter Award

2006-04-20T18:24:00.000+01:00

Julianstown received 1st place in the category for villages with population between 500 - 1500 at the Meath Co Council Anti Litter League awards ceremony in Navan last night. The judges remarked that Julianstown was keeping up its impeccable record and while we were a new group we had been very successful in these initiatives. We received a beautiful Newgrange Crystal trophy and a cheque for €1000 which will be used to further enhance our village.

Julianstown Residents Association meet next Tuesday and we will be finalising the plan of action for this summer. We would love to hear from you if you have any ideas for projects. Also anyone willing to lend a hand over the coming months - we will be continuing with periodic litter pick ups as well. Congratulations and thanks to all who came out in good and bad weather over the spring to clean up the village - a job well done! Also the National Spring Clean last weekend resulted in us filling 2.5 skips!

Whitecross School Anger

2006-04-19T20:41:00.000+01:00

McEntee’s anger over condition of school - Meath Chronicle

“Whitecross National School in Julianstown is an example of the government’s failure after a decade in power to improve the lot of education. Some children are taught in prefabs that are over 20 years old. They have poor ventilation and inadequate toilet facilities. The prefabs would be condemned if used on any building site in Ireland.”

TD Shane McEntee lays it on thick in this week's Meath Chronicle. In the report also carried in the Drogheda Indo the newly elected TD is expressing anger at the lack of school building in the area. Anger might be a bit strong an emotion, but he has a point. As a pupil of Whitecross in the dark 1970s we were in prefabs for many years. Now in the bright 21st century little seems to have changed.