Call to fund walkway to top of Keash Hill
The Council has been urged to continue a walkway at the Caves of Keash to the summit of Keash Hill.
Independent Councillor Margaret Gormley’s motion called on the Council to seek funding to continue the walkway due to the success of the walkway launched in 2014.
“The number of people who come from all around the county to see the caves. It is a tourist attraction and of importance to Keash and the area,” said Cllr Gormley.
She was supported by Fianna Fáil Councillor Paul Taylor who said her’s was the type of motion and funding that councillors were talking about in the economic plan for the rest of South Sligo.
“This would be of great benefit to them,” he told members.
Fine Gael Councillor Dara Mulvey also supported Cllr Gormley and complimented the local community group in Keash.
Fianna Fáil Councillor Keith Henry supported her also and pointed out that there was a safety element to the issue and said anything that could be done would be appreciated.
Director of Services Dorothy Clarke said the Council would “love to be in a position to provide a walkway to the summit of Keash Hill.” However she said access to the top was through the Bricklieve Mountains and Keshcorran Special Area of Conservation (SAC), which was a Natura 2000 site to protect habitats and species.
A report carried out already concluded that a Natura Impact Statement and an Ecological Impact Statement would be required to advance plans for any walkway to the top.
This, Ms Clarke said, “will cost money” and would have to be done before any planning application was sought.
Ms Clarke said the reports would have to be carried out by consultants and they are expensive to hire.
“That could cost ¤30,000 - ¤50,000. That’s the cost we’re talking about,” she told members.
She said the Council doesn’t get grant aid to fund reports such as those and “it’s not in our budget.”
“It’s stalled a little bit but we will look to see that walkway developed,” she said.
“It will take a lot of money and we’ ll work to get it to