Council to take over railway route

MOVE PAVES THE WAY FOR THE EXTENSION OF GST INTO NORTH KERRY

A PROPOSED walking and cycling route potentially worth millions to the North Kerry economy inched closer fruition this week as the Council surmounted a long-running legal obstacle to take ownership of the railway line on which it is planned to establish the route.

Supporters of the plan to extend the Great Southern Trail from west Limerick into Listowel say they were delighted to learn that Kerry County Council is to take ownership from Iarnród Éireann of the route this week.

€110,000 has already been allocated to get the project ‘shovel ready’ (the figure includes provision for the revamping of the old Neodata site in Listowel). Meanwhile, Kerry County Council informed councillors on Monday it is expected that planning permission for GST Kerry could be submitted later this year.

“The Council taking ownership is a key step in the process, so it’s very positive news,” Fianna Fáil County Cllr Jimmy Moloney said, adding: “We were told that once we had everything in place we would be next in line for the funding required to establish the route after the South Kerry Greenway project in Kells.”

Planning for that project was lodged with An Bord Pleanála two weeks ago.

It’s not clear yet whether the GST will have to go before the board - that depends on an environmental study that’s to be carried out shortly in an effort to establish whether a full EIS will be required. If it is required, the board will be the planning arbiter.

Up to 3,000 people signed a petition flagging their support for the extension of the GST, but a group of 150 walkers were famously blocked from walking the route when landowners mounted a blockade in 2013. “The Council’s door is always open and I would appeal to anyone with concerns to discuss it. This is a project that has the potential to be massive,” Cllr Moloney said.