Funding sought to improve access to Collooney station
AN APPLICATION for funding has been made to improve pedestrian access from Collooney to the railway station.
The application was announced on Monday in response to a motion put forward by Cllr Thomas Walsh at the meeting of the Sligo-Drumcliffe municipal district.
Cllr Walsh called for the provision of safe pedestrian access from the town to the nearby train station for all railway users.
The Fine Gael representative, who is the cathaoirleach for the district, said the access currently in place is inadequate, especially for a particularly busy stop.
“The current access is damaged, uneven in many parts, holds water during heavy rainfall and there is no continuity in the access of footpath from Collooney centre to the station.” “There are currently 44 trains operating between Sligo and Dublin weekly with all services stopping in Collooney. Collooney is a very busy train station and with the population of Collooney increasing as per its satellite status, it is vital we have a safe pedestrian access to the station from the town itself.”
Cllr Walsh said such works should also present an opportunity improve the footpaths which connect Collooney and Ballisodare. “Likewise with improvements being made to footpaths between Ballisodare and Collooney it is important that infrastructure linking the station to Ballisodare is safe and user friendly.”
“The current access is not safe and it is in need of urgent repair and I am calling on the local authority to ensure that the current surface is upgraded.”
Acting director of services Emer Concannon said that the council has applied for funding in the area which woould allow for such upgrades and construction.
“Sligo County Council recently applied for funding for this area under Circular RW 13/2020 which is the Former National Road Rehabilitation Grant. The application included for pavement upgrades and new footpath construction and footpath widening along the R290 from the Owenmore river bridge as far as the junction with the L-3607-0 Coolaney Road.” “Sligo County Council is also considering an application to the National Transport Authority to upgrade the existing footpaths and the construction of a new section of footpath along the L-3607-0 as far as the entrance to the railway station under their Active Travel funding scheme, subject to meeting the requirements of this scheme.”