(M) Pride of Place Awards

We offer our congratulations to all the award winners at MCC Pride of Place 2022 for the Navan Municipal District.

We picked up 2 awards for Large Town and Actions for Pollinators whilst Old Johnstown Village Community Group won 3 awards: Streetscape, Small Town 500-2000, and Heritage Award.

(P) Old Johnstown Makeover

Cllr. Emer Tóibín informs us that the Town Council Meeting has discussed a proposal for a makeover to Old Johnstown Village if URDF funding comes through.  The Council has bought 1.7 acres that includes the vacant and derelict old stone house opposite Mace and the corner site surrounding it.

The indicative plans show a public plaza area that will form the focal heart of Old Johnstown, a cycle lane, and redevelopment for mixed-use. Conceptual plans show 14 townhouses, 8 apartments, and 5 commercial units.

The Old Johnstown Community Group continues to maintain the village streetscape to a very high standard.

(N) Johnstown School Campus

Finally, several years late there are signs of dramatic progress with groundwork clearly visible for the completion of Colaiste Na Mi Secondary School and the new buildings for St Mary's Special School (currently in Old Johnstown Village). 

(N) Apartments Replace Athlumney Centre

Within one year the change has been significant, the derelict and rundown shopping centre was demolished in May 2022 and new modern apartments were created.

(P) Johnstown Facilities?

The Meath Chronicle report, Jan 7th, on the Navan Municipal District Council Meeting where it was revealed that over 4 acres of land at the Dunville estate is finally being released to the Council.

After 20 years of asking will Johnstown gain a community building this year?

(P) Shopping Centre Landscaping

Bouncing from a health emergency to the 'cost of living' crisis we are awaiting a more suitable time to propose an enhancement to the car park and verge areas of the Johnstown Shopping Centre. A proposal has been drafted to discuss hosting low-level advertising planters that would be sponsored by each of the shops. These would contain water reservoirs and be from reclaimed or recycled material and host seasonal planting with a bias for biodiversity, low maintenance, and sustainability.

Johnstown really needs some form of public seating despite concerns for youth gatherings. 

We feel that the car park pedestrian crossing areas are in need of practical barriers whilst the occasional car parks and block pedestrians around the perimeter of the shops. 

The appearance of the waste bins could be enhanced and incorporate new segregation bins in the area.

(M) People's Park

The Park's Management Team has continued to allow Johnstown FC the opportunity to use the park for training their youngest teams. Despite being privately owned it remains open to the public however we have made no progress in changing the grass cutting regeme because it requires consent from the 600+ shareholders. Nor can we add planting or seating for the same reasons.

(N) Seasonal Decorations

Haven Studios has added a sparkle to the dark autumn evenings in Old Johnstown Village. Local artist Fiona has transformed the studio with the use of natural materials and together with seasonal imagery produced by Compact Ivy Mural Design Meath it's a really effective scene.

It's refreshing to see traditional decorations of real fir, pine cones, eucalyptus, and pussy willow all foraged locally and in Wicklow.

(M) Foregoing Lights

There was a significant and noticeable reduction in outdoor decorative winter lights due to the cost of living crisis and the rising cost of electricity. Despite having planned to include the 14 trees opposite the Johnstown Shopping Centre using battery-timed LED lights we decided that it would be inappropriate in the current financial climate to host our winter lights display.