Friends of Ardee Bog Appeal High Court Decision as Councillor Minogue Calls for Temporary Relief Road
Ardee News and Sport – Friends of Ardee Bog Appeal High Court Decision as Councillor Minogue Calls for Temporary Relief Road
‘Friends of Ardee Bog’, but they are certainly not friends of the town itself
The ongoing saga surrounding the long-awaited Ardee bypass has taken another turn as environmental group Friends of Ardee Bog lodged an appeal against a High Court decision refusing their application for a judicial review. In response to growing traffic congestion, Ardee Fine Gael Councillor Dolores Minogue has urged Louth County Council to consider a temporary road to ease the town’s gridlock.
The bypass, designed to alleviate traffic congestion in Ardee, has been delayed due to legal challenges from Friends of Ardee Bog, who have raised concerns about the potential environmental impact on the bogland. However, with traffic tailbacks continuing to disrupt daily life, Councillor Minogue believes a temporary solution is now essential.
Speaking at the council’s monthly meeting, Cllr. Minogue highlighted the severe impact the delays are having on the town’s residents, businesses, and essential services.
“Those taking this legal action claim to be ‘Friends of Ardee Bog’, but they are certainly not friends of the town itself,”she stated. “Traders are struggling, emergency services face delays, and the Doctor on Call service can’t navigate through the town due to the constant tailbacks.”
Minogue proposed a temporary road through the site of a new school currently under construction on the Kells Road. The suggested route would connect directly to the north side of the town, diverting heavy goods vehicles and through-traffic away from the town centre.
“This temporary road could significantly reduce the volume of vehicles on the Main Street,” she explained. “It would improve safety for all road users, including pedestrians, and potentially increase footfall to support local businesses.”
Louth County Council officials acknowledged the ongoing traffic issues and confirmed their readiness to proceed with the bypass project once the legal matters are resolved. In the meantime, they have committed to exploring alternative traffic solutions.
The delays have been a source of frustration for Ardee residents for years. The bypass was initially approved to ease chronic congestion in the town, but environmental concerns regarding the potential disturbance to Ardee Bog have led to multiple legal challenges.
The latest appeal from Friends of Ardee Bog will once again postpone the start of construction, with no clear timeline yet for a resolution. The group has consistently maintained that their actions are necessary to protect the ecological integrity of the bog, arguing that the bypass could cause irreversible damage to the sensitive habitat.
Cllr. Minogue, however, remains adamant that the town’s needs must come first.
“We need a solution now, not years down the line,” she said. “If we can’t get the bypass underway immediately, let’s at least take practical steps to ease the pressure on the town.”
The council will now conduct a feasibility study to assess the viability of the proposed temporary road while awaiting the outcome of the latest legal proceedings. Meanwhile, Ardee residents and commuters can only hope that relief from the town’s persistent traffic woes is on the horizon.