8 Approach Roads, Streets & Lanes
Do we welcome visitors on arrival and do we encourage them to stay? With 5 access points, each is different, and each needs improvement. Can we improve on the appearances of our main attractions: residential areas, the Johnstown Shopping Centre, Old Johnstown Village Shops, The People's Park, the IDA businesses, 3 schools, one church, and the River walk.
Our Goals
2019 to 2022/23
Expand each section to read more.
Competition Guide Notes:
Appropriate presentation of approach roads, including the roadside verges and their boundary treatment. The appearance of town and village streets, connecting roads, laneways, bridges and cycle lanes. Provision for inclusive access and pedestrian connections.
- Walking
2022 & 23
Promote the Johnstown Sunflower 10km Trail July to October ✔️
Promote walking to School - St Stephen's NS 'Walk on Wednesdays' ✔️
2021
Promote local trails and walks and add features to enhance the experience: Sunflower trail, neat litter free paths, planting areas etc. ✔️
Promoted the Johnstown Sunflower 8km Trail July to October ✔️
Promote walking to School - St Stephen's NS 'Walk on Wednesdays' ✔️
2020
Promote local trails and walks ✔️
2019
Highlight local walking groups and the neighbourhood routes. ✔️
2. Signage
2023
Repeat request for the L5050 back road redundant school signs to be removed where access has been closed.
Carry out a survey to identify missing Way finder signs.
Potential competition for the best shop window display.
2022
Create street signage for the Sunflower Trail 2022.
Zebra crossing poles need cleaning around the Johnstown roundabout. ✔️
Street signs on the main roads require cleaning in stages. ✔️
Some of the street signs have been purposely turned and require resetting as they are discovered. ✔️
Derelict sign at the Athlumeny Centre removed. ✔️
2021
Repeat request for the Bothar Sion National Development Plan sign to be removed. ✔️
Investigate opportunities to provide information boards for trees, habitats, and planting areas. ✔️
Create street signage for our 11 biodiversity sites. ✔️
Concern was raised over the amount of plastic estate agent signs on the main roads. ✔️
2020
Signage requested and erected to provide direction to the Johnstown School Campus ✔️
Graffiti removed and signs cleaned ✔️
2019
Request for the Bothar Sion National Development Plan sign to be removed. ✔️
Seek to improve our Welcome signs with planting. ✔️
3. Cycling
2022 & 23
Work with Navan Cycling Initiative to resolve issue with the steps in SpireView not being cyclist friendly.
2021
Work with Navan Cycling Initiative to investigate solutions to issues where cyclists have to dismount to join cycle lanes at all approaching road junctions. ✔️
Engage with new cycle outlet. ✔️
St Stephen's NS obtains cycle shelter.✔️
2020
Engage with Navan Cycling Initiative to promote cycle to school, the routes through Johnstown, and advocate for their connection to Navan. ✔️
Identify issues with existing cycle lanes ✔️
2019
Establish that all public areas have cycle parking bays: Council office, schools, and Johnstown shopping centre ✔️
Engage with Navan Cycling Initiative ✔️
4. Roundabouts
2023
Potential for IDA roundabout to host planting display.
2022
Johnstown roundabout was included in the Don't Mow Yet initiative (May). ✔️
Weeding to improve the presentation of the Johnstown roundabout clockwork. ✔️
Engage with the Johnstown School Campus to design a layout and involve children in planting ✔️
Advocate that the Johnstown Roundabout has pollinator-friendly planting and stop the use of weed killer.✔️
Sunflower Trail
The sponsor approves alongside their signage on the Johnstown roundabout. ✔️
IDA approves use of their roundabout. ✔️
School roundabout included ✔️
2021
Sunflower Trail includes the School Roundabout ✔️
2020
Bring attention to the School Roundabout with a quick Spring Bulb planting exercise to highlight the opportunity.✔️
Johnstown Roundabout tree died and was removed. Advocate for a replacement/feature to be erected.✔️
2019
Create a winter lighting feature on the Johnstown Roundabout ✔️
5. Fences
2022
Inquiry made to the IDA contractor to remove the old redundant timber fence from Bothar Sion that would negate the need to spray weedkiller and to repaint it.. ✔️
2021
Planting project to Bothar Síon fence developed and weed killer use eliminated. ✔️
Owner Identified and maintenance group approached where weed killer used around IDA fence, Bothar Sion, contrary to our efforts to make the public road weed killer free. ✔️
2020
Planting project proposed to Bothar Síon fence and Bailis Downs residents engaged. ✔️
2019
Repair wooden fence on Bothar Síon and devise a planting plan to deter future damage. ✔️
6. Pavements and Verges
2022
A large number of public verges participated in the Don't Mow Yet initiative (May) ✔️
Researched, inspected, and applied for grant funding to obtain the 'Foamstream' system to manage weeds with dangerous chemicals. ✔️
Restarted our verge edging with south Metges Road (May) ✔️
Restarted the 'Green Km' 8km pavement/cycle lane weeding, without weedkiller (May) ✔️
Restart the 'Green Km' 8km strimming around objects (bins, fences, lamp posts etc), without weedkiller (June)
2021
Implement Main road verge edging and weed removal without chemical use. ✔️
Include residential estates in verge edging project ✔️
Engage with Athboy Tidy Towns to review their project in tackling roadside weeds.✔️
Encourage residential groups to tackle roadside weeds by hand. ✔️
2020
Pilot an area to test out verge edging to stop weed killer use. ✔️
7. Planting
2023
Develop an all season display
Develop a St Martha's Bridge Flower Display for over winter.
2022
Engage local business in pollinator friendly planting displays ✔️
Establish advertising planters at Johnstown Shopping Centre and Old Johnstown Village.
St Martha's Bridge Summer Flower Display to be all pollinator-friendly
2021
Long grass strip maintained along Athlumeny Hall bank after spring bulbs. ✔️
Provide information about pollinator-friendly planting within estates and homes. ✔️
Encourage estates to enhance entry planting around marker stones. ✔️
Seek to plant more trees, liaise with MCC. ✔️
Apply to join Wild About Navan's Dispersed Urban Orchard initiative. ✔️
St Martha's Bridge Summer Flower Display to be largely pollinator-friendly and reuseable at the Athlumney Hall Verge.✔️
2020
Spring Bulbs are planted at key areas to draw attention to the potential. ✔️
Planting wildflower strip at Bothar Sion fence line ✔️
Tree planting on Metges Road ✔️
Long grass area in Johnstown Wood ✔️
2019
Wildflower area established at Metges Road Petrol Station ✔️
St Martha's Bridge Summer Flower Display trialled some pollinator-friendly plants and reuseable at the Athlumney Hall Verge.✔️
8. Street lighting
2022 & 23
Survey the area to establish excessive night time pollution / dark spots / areas of antisocial behaviour.
Create a winter tree lighting feature: Bailis Downs Tree Ring, Johnstown Wood Elm and Maple
2021
Create a winter tree lighting feature: Bailis Downs Tree Ring✔️
2020
Create a winter tree lighting feature: Bailis Downs Tree Ring✔️
2019
Promote Fix My Street to enable individuals to report outages. ✔️
Create a winter tree lighting feature: Johnstown Roundabout✔️
9. Street Furniture
2023
Seek to erect a community noticeboard outside Shopping Centre
Seek to host planters around the Johnstown Shopping Centre
2022
Seek funding to improve the presentation of bus stops with suitable planting around. ✔️
St Martha's Bridge summer flower planters x28 ✔️
2021
St Martha's Bridge summer flower planters installed x28 ✔️
Survey opinion on hosting bench seating in Johnstown ✔️
2019
Double the size of St Martha's Bridge summer flower planters x30 installed ✔️