Final route for west Mayo Greenway yet to be identified

THE final route of the controversial Greenway to Murrisk in west Mayo has not yet been identified while council officials have not ruled out the design being sent to An Bord Pleanála for final approval.

Members of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District were informed at yesterday's monthly meeting that the route for the Belclare to Murrisk Greenway is still going through the route option selection process and consultation with landowners is still ongoing.

Westport-based councillor Brendan Mulroy raised the status of the Belclare to Murrisk Greenway and if the item will be placed on the agenda for the September meeting. He told the meeting that previously councillors were informed that the route would be identified last March and sought clarity and transparency on the process.

Seamus Ó Mongáin, Head of the Municipal District informed that the delay in identifying the route is due to a number of factors including ongoing environmental studies and changes in staff at the Mayo National Roads Design Office where the project is being designed.

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When asked by Cllr Peter Flynn if a determination has been made on whether the project will go through a Part 8 planning process where councillors will have the final say or go to An Bord Pleanála for approval, Mr Ó Mongáin replied 'not just yet'.

Cllr Flynn, who is Cathaoirleach of the Westport/ Belmullet Municipal District, asked for the item to be placed on the agenda for the September meeting and a full update given by an official overseeing the project.

“In fairness it has been dragging on in the background and nobody seems to know what the status is,” he said.

Cllr Mulroy said that lack of clarity on the project was leading to speculation 'rightly or wrongly' and this was raising problems locally.