Deadline looming for public feedback on Westport to Murrisk Greenway

THE deadline for feedback on the controversial preferred route for the Westport to Murrisk Greenway is this Friday with local people encouraged to make submissions on the route.

The emerging preferred route for the Murrisk Greenway has been met with resistance from landowners who are opposed to the Greenway going through their land.

The preferred route option will see the Greenway go off road from Aughavale Cemetery via the townlands of Cloonagh, Kiladangan and Deerpark towards Murrisk and will cut through land at the foot of Croagh Patrick.

The project is being developed by Mayo County Council in conjunction with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and the project team are following TII Project Management Guidelines in delivering it.

Castlebar-based engineering consultants Barry Transportation (BT) were appointed to provide technical consultancy services for the Option Selection process, Preliminary Design and Statutory Processes for this Greenway.

The emerging preferred route which is approximately 6km in distance was revealed at a Public Consultation Day organised by the National Roads Office of Mayo County Council in Cronin's Sheebeen Pub & Restaurant in Rosbeg, Westport on February 22.

As part of the consultation process, the public have been asked to make submissions on the emerging preferred route before this Friday, March 22 which will 'further inform the preliminary design for this scheme'.

The Project Team working on the project stated that they will give significant attention to 'local constraints along the road corridor', 'consistent and continuous facilities', 'access to private dwellings', 'junction improvements', 'pedestrian crossing locations' and 'environmental and biodiversity considerations'.

Campaign

HOWEVER, a large number of landowners have expressed their opposition to the route option and have launched a campaign to oppose it. Last weekend, a large number of people attended a protest at the Westport Octagon where speakers which included local councillors voiced their support to the opposition to the Greenway. They all stated they will not support the CPO of people's land to accommodate a greenway.

The landowners have proposed that Mayo County Council and TII develop a walk and cycleway along the main road from Westport to Murrisk.

The Project Team considered this option during the selection process but it was not considered as it was not deemed financially feasible and would not meet TII guidelines for developing greenways along public roads.

The Belclare to Murrisk Greenway form’s part of the Clew Bay Bike Trail which links Westport, Murrisk, Louisburgh, Roonagh, Clare Island, Achill Island, Mulranny, Newport and returns to Westport.