STUDY TO MAP OUT BEST ROUTE FOR EAST COAST GREENWAY
WICKLOW County Council has appointed consultants WS Atkins to conduct a full scale feasibility study for a greenway route from Wicklow town to Greystones.
This study will start immediately and be completed by November. It aims to plot the most efficient route along the coast, in a way that is the most sympathetic to both local landowners and the National Parks and Wildlife service.
Ciaràn Lally, Chairperson of the East Coast Greenway Group, said: ‘We cannot thank Wicklow County Council enough for its support. We have had great engagement from the new Chief Executive Frank Curran from the day he took office and, indeed, every council official we have met thus far, have been fully supportive and a joy to work with.
‘The fact that Wicklow County Council has stepped up to provide funding for the appointment of these consultants shows great commitment to the project and we are excited to be working with WS Atkins to complete the feasibility study.
‘We are greatly heartened by the huge level of local support we have re- ceived in recent weeks, and everybody seems to understand and embrace the undoubted benefits the long sought after greenway will deliver for the people of the east coast – physical and mental health along with the enormous economic benefit the expected increase in tourism will deliver for all towns along the route’.
Coastal protection works will be required to safeguard the greenway once it is complete to prevent damage from coastal erosion.
‘In conjunction with this feasibility study, we understand that the OPW are close to appointing consultants to look at a coastal defence plan. This is crucially important as we have maintained from day one that investment in a greenway can only make sense alongside a coastal erosion defence plan,’ said Mr Lally.
A petition in support of the greenway has also been established and received over 8,600 signatures in under four weeks.
Talks have taken place between the East Coast Greenway Group and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), while discussions with the IFA are due to take place soon.
‘We don’t want to steam roll anything through. Land owners will need to be consulted and we want them on board. We would be very sympathetic to the NPWS and landowners,’ said Mr Lally.
Resting areas along the greenway, where people can stop to view local wildlife and fauna, are also under consideration. The walk will also be designed to be wheelchair accessible and is helped by the greenway’s zero gradient.
There’s further good news for Wicklow town as the Wicklow Town Team, chaired by Dave Shannon, also has a number of projects lined up, including establishing back lighting at all historic buildings in the town.
‘We have appointed a consultant to carry out a design,’ said Mr Shannon. ‘We hope to have the design complete by the end of December. The back lighting would involved Wicklow Gaol, the Black Castle, the Billy Byrne Monument and the local churches. We also already carried out geographical surveys of the Black Castle and Abbey Grounds. We will be placing up information on what the Abbey and the Black Castle used to look like. Hopefully, that will be in place by spring of next year’.
Discussions have also taken place over a park and ride service in Wicklow town, where buses will run from with a guarantee of being in Dublin city within an hour. Feeder buses will also be provided for those seeking to travel on the Dart or Luas.
The retail group carried out a survey of consumers in Wicklow town and a draft report should be complete within the coming days. The digital group are working on the construction of a website which would cover everything taking place in the town.
Steering groups are also looking into how to develop shops and cafés along the quays and an application has been made for funding to bring historic walks in Wicklow town back to life.
To sign the greenway petition, visit www.change.org/p/minister-simon-harris-t-d-secure-funding-for-an-east-coast-greenway-from-wicklow-to-greystones.