Are there any plans to do anything about Drogheda's decline?

CMpunked

Nesta99 wrote: »

Maybe the first consideration should be to sort out such anti-social stuff

That would have to be dealt with on a national level and not regional. The judicial system in this country is a joke but that should probably be left for another thread.

Lord TSC

I'd agree the anti-social thing isn't something easily sorted out; that problem has existed for decades, in good times and bad, and truthfully, trying to deal with the core causes of it (unemployment, teenage drinking, etc) would be tough enough to tackle in the good times, let alone the bad....

Wireless net

Wireless net wrote: »

Clogher Head attracts a constant stream of people out there! I sometimes sail up to get a nice cup of seafood chowder, with nice big chunks of fish in it, and some brown bread, and also a few packets of those crab claws!
yes they sell hot seafood chowder in the fish shop at the pier in clogherhead! fantastic stuff and its served piping hot!

Exactly. So what's the point in trying to compete. Even if the boyne was suitable for water based activities, Clogherhead is only a short distance away (one could argue it's poorly served by public transport, but that's another argument altogether).

Nesta99 wrote: »

Maybe the first consideration should be to sort out such anti-social stuff....hope you wouldnt be the type of politicain who does the 'if ye cant see it, it doesnt exist thing

Anti-Social behaviour will always exist in Ireland. The courts are far too lenient and the Gardaí don't want to deal with it (which is understandable, why fight, claw and scratch to get a couple of thugs into the back of your patrol car, when you know that they're getting less than a slap on the wrist if they ever go before a judge).


Spike Island should be re-opened and should specialise in making an example of people. I think that mandatory minimum sentencing should be part of the judicial system (to make up for the abundance of lenient and incompetent judges in the state, currently).


None of these are local issues though (though they would benefit Drogheda and other small towns, of course).

Fenian Army

MugMugs wrote: »

I think you'd be best served reporting him to an Admin if that is true.

It's nonsense.

Fenian Army

Nesta99 wrote: »

Fenian Army playing the broken record...opression, brutality, damn those English - after the first few words I yawned and stopped reading, not worth a retort.

Whoever suggested a University in Scotch Hall, even if it was possible whats the need when you are a 20min drive from DKIT/DCU (both if which will be that same thing very soon).

The simple remdial short term thing to do is to implement by-laws that obligates property owners to maintain their buildings. Fine them if they dont and take a compulsory purchase out on long term derelict buildings.

The return of volunteerism is fantastic to hear after the plastic self centred days of the last decade. A sense of ownership within a community brings with it pride and thus helps perpetuate efforts, and everyone will benefit. Recessionary periods are a bitch but the one positive is that it galvanises the people and good old community spirit returns in abundance.

How about you address what I said - where was I wrong?

Drogheda has suffered because of partition - like the other border counties. My point about the town relying on outsiders - the elites of 19th century industry or todays foreign "heroes" like Coca Cola for employment is valid. Drogheda has no (or next to none) native industry and these days is a commuter town of electric gated semi ds. Thankfully there are signs that community is returning, there have been some fantastic community efforts recently, as others have alluded to.

You make my point for me - ownership - something which has been lacking, I outlined the reasons why. You can bury your head in the sand all you want - you mightn't like what I say but it has validity.

I wasnt blaming Cromwell, but the reliance on industry with little or no ties to the community (the penal laws helped this)and having nothing to fall back on when they inevitable up and leave or fold as the long running problem the town has had, repeated today with coke.

Fenian Army

I was always led to believe that the Boyne is very dangerous, and one should never swim etc in it? Or is that just at places like the curly hole?

MugMugs

Fenian Army wrote: »

I was always led to believe that the Boyne is very dangerous, and one should never swim etc in it? Or is that just at places like the curly hole?

It's fine if you know what you're doing like any river.

The hole is a swell of turning water and is dangerous. I'd only recommend kayaking any part of The Boyne with a buoyancy aid, helmet and the competence needed to do so. I wouldn't suggest anybody who is not experienced head out for the "craic"

Kaylee

I'm just back from 10 days in West Cork and I wish we had just a bit of whatever attitude their Councils have down there (not trying to compere chalk with cheese - I know Drogheda is not Skibbereen). But just a bit more care and respect and imagination...

Agree with OP on most of his viewpoints - he's right the North Strand always gets me too... a complete kip - those concrete warehouses belonging to the Port are UGLY. What is the story with Doners Green - who is responsible for the state it's in?

@CMPunked - It's great that the Skate Park has been given the go ahead - but did it have to be on one of the few green areas in the town beside the river? Especially with all the other areas in the town that could have been upgraded to suit the needs of skaters.

KKV has great ideas - I'm up for a bit of Guerilla Gardening if anyone is interested! There are lots of areas around the town that could be planted.

The people of Drogheda are great - friendly and helpful - but I think that they have come to expect little and that is what they are getting.

fergal.b

Wireless net wrote: »

have you canoed / kayaked on the Boyne? the river is smelly with lots of pollution, regularly i see pollution floating on the surface its manky really around the town area, i canoed down from Slane castle in an open canoe to Drogheda , and came accross a dead cow all bloated up on the way down, if some work was done to tidy it up, market it, and make more facilities available it would be much better, the water quality is very poor though.

last year i had my yacht in Drogheda port, and slept aboard a couple of nights, was awoken at 4.30 am with beer bottles being thrown out at my boat.. :mad:

Drogheda is a working port, and so not that geared up to support pleasure craft, however a little marina would be nice, further down stream, one can only wish!

as river is tidal, sometimes there can be a good current running, and also parts of river up near the town, are only 1.3M deep at LW, can make it unsuitable for some watersports.

however down at bank town / bishops / queensborough / hole / its much nicer, and often see dinghy sailing going on there in summer, also you will also see the odd foreign yacht, anchored down at the hole during the summer months.

I know this an old post but just wanted to say that that a group of us from http://powerboat.iwai.ie/ will be doing a run up the Boyne this weekend http://afloat.ie/inland/inland-waterways/item/20989-powerboat-flotilla-to-visit-drogheda-river-boyne in the hope to show that the Boyne is a place worth a visit by pleasure boats, we will also be heading up the canal where the Boyne Navigation Branch have been doing fantastic work over the years to clean it up and get it back to working order. These guy's/girls have work parties most weekends and are always looking for volunteers to help out,so if anyone has a bit of free time and would like to see the waterway been brought back to life give them a shout Here is some of the work they have done so far. http://boyne.iwai.ie/plogger/ and if you want see the Boyne full of boats including the Clogherhead lifeboat we should be at De Lacey bridge by about 12.45.

OP Ask not what your town can do for you but what can you do for your town :D




.

CRM Ireland

fergal.b wrote: »

I know this an old post but just wanted to say that that a group of us from http://powerboat.iwai.ie/ will be doing a run up the Boyne this weekend http://afloat.ie/inland/inland-waterways/item/20989-powerboat-flotilla-to-visit-drogheda-river-boyne in the hope to show that the Boyne is a place worth a visit by pleasure boats, we will also be heading up the canal where the Boyne Navigation Branch have been doing fantastic work over the years to clean it up and get it back to working order. These guy's/girls have work parties most weekends and are always looking for volunteers to help out,so if anyone has a bit of free time and would like to see the waterway been brought back to life give them a shout Here is some of the work they have done so far. http://boyne.iwai.ie/plogger/ and if you want see the Boyne full of boats including the Clogherhead lifeboat we should be at De Lacey bridge by about 12.45.

OP Ask not what your town can do for you but what can you do for your town :D




.

At the pier this weekend? 13th April? If so, I will be there!

fergal.b

I see we hit the papers today

fergal.b

Great run yesterday but not many photos as I was surfing all the way up the Boyne on the wake of the pilot boat and lifeboat
We launched at the "Boyne fishermans rescue and recovery" where they did all the hard work of launching and we just had to climb onboard.










The calm before the storm :eek:




There was a great welcome all the way along the banks up into Drogheda where we tied up and headed Off for lunch in The d hotel.





This is a photo of the proposed Drogheda Marina that the Mayor say's should be in place by next year.

eth0_

I haven't posted on Boards in years but felt I had to today.

I'm home for Christmas, visiting my parents who live just outside Drogheda. I grew up here and I know Drogheda wasn't all that in the 90's and early 2000's but there was a bit of pride about the town, and it wasn't a depressing place to be.

I went for a walk round the town earlier today and wow, what a sad place it has become. Every other building is tumbledown or in need of a serious paint job. Graffiti everywhere. Empty shops and lots of shops selling the same old tat. Horrid plastic signage on shops - particularly the Polish food shop that's taken over The Sound Shop! Litter.

Even the posher side of Drogheda around Bryanstown/Stameen area is looking run down with lots of graffiti.

Why doesn't the council get the finger out? Why are shop owners/leaseholders allowing their buildings to become half derelict?

It's shocking to think people might want to invest in the town will see it in this state. I'd turn around and leave!

Nesta99

eth0_ wrote: »

I haven't posted on Boards in years but felt I had to today.

I'm home for Christmas, visiting my parents who live just outside Drogheda. I grew up here and I know Drogheda wasn't all that in the 90's and early 2000's but there was a bit of pride about the town, and it wasn't a depressing place to be.

I went for a walk round the town earlier today and wow, what a sad place it has become. Every other building is tumbledown or in need of a serious paint job. Graffiti everywhere. Empty shops and lots of shops selling the same old tat. Horrid plastic signage on shops - particularly the Polish food shop that's taken over The Sound Shop! Litter.

Even the posher side of Drogheda around Bryanstown/Stameen area is looking run down with lots of graffiti.

Why doesn't the council get the finger out? Why are shop owners/leaseholders allowing their buildings to become half derelict?

It's shocking to think people might want to invest in the town will see it in this state. I'd turn around and leave!

High council rates during a recession something has to give, and building maintenance would be one of the first to go. Vicious cycle then isnt it as people aint attracted to a run down looking place further tightening the belt. Great to see the Marina is to become a reality after years of talking about it. The refurbishment of Market Square in Dundalk has already reaped reward with multiple sucessful events being held and now the hosting the Giro d'italia this coming May - very unlikely tha this would have happend prior to the refurb.

enricoh

1: the corpo still charge celtic tiger rates n when yer a small shop struggling to survive there mightnt be much dough left for painting n nice wooden signs etc

2:parking can be a pain in the arse, is expensive n parking tickets if yer delayed. not an issue in any of the retail parks

3:the town could have done with an aldi or lidl in the centre to draw people in.

no. 1 n 2 are down totally to the corpo so expect zero change there, no. 3 - i'd say aldi n lidl are happy enough with 2 each

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

enricoh wrote: »

1: the corpo still charge celtic tiger rates n when yer a small shop struggling to survive there mightnt be much dough left for painting n nice wooden signs etc

2:parking can be a pain in the arse, is expensive n parking tickets if yer delayed. not an issue in any of the retail parks

3:the town could have done with an aldi or lidl in the centre to draw people in.

no. 1 n 2 are down totally to the corpo so expect zero change there, no. 3 - i'd say aldi n lidl are happy enough with 2 each

Unfortunately, not one of those points is unique to Drogheda. Indeed they apply to most towns in Ireland today. Look just up the road from you in Dundalk and you'll find the same thing.

enricoh

Brayson Gentle Tart wrote: »

Unfortunately, not one of those points is unique to Drogheda. Indeed they apply to most towns in Ireland today. Look just up the road from you in Dundalk and you'll find the same thing.

i know its a similar situation in most towns but i really think the government should be forcing councils to drop the rates to say 2/3 of 2007s rate.
i know a lad who had a shop idle for over 2 years and he got a tenant in recently. on his second day open he had the lad in looking for the rates - thats taking the piss.

hopefully they find a new newgrange in the survey of the cup n saucer n we'll have a tourism boom!

Lord TSC

Brayson Gentle Tart wrote: »

Unfortunately, not one of those points is unique to Drogheda. Indeed they apply to most towns in Ireland today. Look just up the road from you in Dundalk and you'll find the same thing.

Honestly, I disagree.

I've started heading up to Swords, and the shopping center in particular, and the difference between it and Drogheda are night and day. It actually is quite upsetting how vibrant and full of life it is compared to Drogheda, where Scotch Hall stands as a relic to a foregone time. Seems the only times people go into SH are to get in and get out as quickly as possible. And it's not as if there's that big a difference in the selection of stores; certainly not as big a difference to signify the difference in numbers.

Don't get me wrong, I get Swords is a more affluent area. But the idea that Drogheda can't change because other towns are doing bad is one that frustrates me. I know I'm verging towards a rant, and not just about the replied to post, but it frustrates me how many young entrepreneurs and potential small business owners are driven out of the country, while a town like Drogheda has all these empty buildings and shops which are kept that way because greedy shop owners would rather the building stay empty than lower their rates.

In many ways, Drogheda would be perfect for a revival in terms of how many empty shops there are, how many unemployed people of all skill levels there are....I know that the banks don't have money to lend, but I feel it's a damn shame that the government don't try and take a few towns, make small business grants a bit more accessible, and use that money to fill the stores, create actual jobs and actually bring a bit of life back into the town

fergal.b

I haven't been in Drogheda since the boat run,has there been any work or movement towards the marina getting built ? I hear the TALL SHIPS will be there in june for the maritime festival and it would be handy if there was a place for smaller boats to tie up.




.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Teamshadowclan wrote: »

Honestly, I disagree.

I've started heading up to Swords, and the shopping center in particular, and the difference between it and Drogheda are night and day. It actually is quite upsetting how vibrant and full of life it is compared to Drogheda, where Scotch Hall stands as a relic to a foregone time. Seems the only times people go into SH are to get in and get out as quickly as possible. And it's not as if there's that big a difference in the selection of stores; certainly not as big a difference to signify the difference in numbers.

Don't get me wrong, I get Swords is a more affluent area. But the idea that Drogheda can't change because other towns are doing bad is one that frustrates me. I know I'm verging towards a rant, and not just about the replied to post, but it frustrates me how many young entrepreneurs and potential small business owners are driven out of the country, while a town like Drogheda has all these empty buildings and shops which are kept that way because greedy shop owners would rather the building stay empty than lower their rates.

In many ways, Drogheda would be perfect for a revival in terms of how many empty shops there are, how many unemployed people of all skill levels there are....I know that the banks don't have money to lend, but I feel it's a damn shame that the government don't try and take a few towns, make small business grants a bit more accessible, and use that money to fill the stores, create actual jobs and actually bring a bit of life back into the town

Don't get me wrong. I agree with you. I was just saying that the 3 reasons for the decline or lack of revival given by the other poster were far from unique to Drogheda and not reasons for the decline in Drogheda per say. High rates etc apply as much in towns that are being revived, or did not decline, as they are in towns not now thriving.
Your comments are perfectly valid. It was the definitive list of reasons for the position in Drogheda that I disagreed with.
I hope this makes sense!

Mickery

If the corporation decide the rates then it would seem like a no brainer that a drop in the rates could act as an incentive for investors and new businesses. There's plenty of room for expansion as there are so many empty units. This would hopefully make up for the drop in rates. Move first and attract the people out there who are looking to invest right now.