Mayo council warned to honour agreement or face Greenway closure

AN Achill community have warned that they may close part of the Great Western Greenway if Mayo County Council fails to honour an agreement to fund a community project.

The community of Sáile on Achill Island have called on Mayo County Council to provide funding for a shelter and community building on the grounds of Sáile National School which they say was agreed in a meeting with council officials in August 2023.

The 5km extension of the Great Western Greenway from Achill Sound to Cashel was officially opened by Minister Jack Chambers in September 2023. One of the unique features of this greenway was the 400m boardwalk over blanket bog in Sáile which is the widest greenway boardwalk currently in use in the state.

The boardwalk goes through commonage and as part of an agreement with local commonage shareholders and tenants, Mayo County Council agreed to fund the construction of an 84 square metre shelters/storage building on the grounds of the local national school.

Meeting

A meeting to agree the funding took place in the school between council officials, Cllr Paul McNamara and members of the community who were informed the funding would be ringfenced.

A design for the project was undertaken by SDS Design Engineers and the project was advertised for tender in February 2024 but The Mayo News understands that despite expressions of interest from contractors, the tender has yet to be awarded.

A spokesperson for the Sáile tenants told The Mayo News that the local community were informed the funding would be ringfenced for the project and they believed it would go to construction last summer.

The spokesperson added that the longer the project goes without starting, they fear the funding will be lost.

“When the greenway was being built it was agreed that the council would fund this project for the community for allowing the greenway through commonage.

“We had expected that the work would go ahead last summer but it didn't and school finishes in a couple of weeks and there is still no sign of it starting. We were told the funding was there and there was no indication it would not be but now we are hearing it might not be there.

“The council told us they were fully committed to the job but in recent months they seem to have rolled back and there is no sign of it being progressed.

“We are not going to let this die and disappear. If there is no progress soon we will have to call a meeting of the tenants and if there is consensus we are prepared to close the Greenway until such time the council gives further commitment and starts the project,” the spokesperson said.

The Mayo News contacted Mayo County Council last Tuesday to clarify if funding was available for the project but no reply was sent at the time of going to print.

'Find the funding'

Local councillor Paul McNamara told The Mayo News that he has been in touch with council officials on behalf of the local community and called on officials to find the funding.

“I hope Mayo County Council resolves the issue and funding will be provided as promised for the community. There was an agreement in place that funding would be ringfenced and it should be found. I have been speaking to officials on a number of occasions and funding appears to be an issue but I hope it will be resolved and the project will go ahead. The council have not said they will not do the project but it appears a funding stream is an issue at the moment,” he said.

Saíle National School is the largest school on the island with over 60 pupils expected to be enrolled for the start of the new school term in September.

The spokesperson said at the moment there are no shelters at the school and it was important that the project goes ahead as it will benefit the entire community.

“When Mayo County Council agreed to fund this project we were delighted as it is something the school and the community badly need. The school staff were looking forward to it being built as it will be another amenity for them and the pupils and it will also be a great facility for the community to meet for events throughout the year.

“The Greenway has been a great addition to the local community and we are very proud that it is going through Sáile. It is widely used by the community and we are delighted with it. But an agreement was made and it should be honoured and it is up to Mayo County Council to find that money and give a commitment to fund the project,” the spokesperson added.