Concerns about Mallow - Dungarvan greenway ‘along old railway route’

Concerns regarding the new proposed Mallow to Dungarvan greenway were raised at a recent plenary meeting of Waterford City and County Council.

It is understood that the proposed greenway is to follow old railway lines where possible. However, local councillor James Tobin from Tallow, raised concerns regarding this, as many old railway lines have been repurposed and incorporated into homes and farmland.

“A lot of that railway has been sold off to private individuals, bridges have been taken down. I know one house where the front garden of their house is where the railway line was,” Cllr Tobin said.

During discussions following the proposal and seconding of a Section 85 agreement that would see Cork County Council taking the lead on the feasibility study being carried out regarding the greenway, although he welcomed the development, Cllr Tobin said he hoped that the study would not ‘take a lifetime’.

“Rather than having this threat or this feasibility study hanging over those people, I think this should be done immediately,” he said.

In response to the councillor’s concerns, Director of Services, Economic Development and Planning Michael Quinn, said that the purpose of the feasibility study is to find alternative routes in cases where the old railway lines have been repurposed.

Mr Quinn stated that he believed it would be ‘reasonably possible’ to bypass such developments, however, he did note that the study would take over 12 months to complete. “It’s very much trying to find a route through that would take account for what has happened with the old railway line,” he said.

Councillor John Pratt also welcomed the study stating that he hoped the feasibility would show that the development is viable.

COUNTY DIVIDE

Cllr Conor McGuinness stated that the Mallow to Dungarvan greenway would be ‘ an important piece of work’ but however, impressed on the council that there should be ‘ adequate skill sharing’.

“We have done wonderfully well with the Waterford greenway and that expertise should inform a lot of the work that will take place,” Cllr McGuinness said.

Director Michael Quinn stated that the county divide sees Waterford account for approximately one-third of the route, while Cork would account for two thirds. Despite this, he assured that there would be ‘skill sharing’.

“We have a joint working group on this so we are very much sharing knowledge and support,” Mr Quinn added.

The possibility of the proposed greenway intersecting with another attraction in West Waterford, St Declan’s Way was raised by Cllr Jody Power at the meeting, as he queried how the two may interact.

Mr Quinn responded by stating that he assumes there would be an intersecting point between the two.

“If they do overlap, that would create an opportunity in terms of an attraction,” he said.

The Section 85 agreement was passed at the Waterford plenary meeting on Thursday last, July 8 having been proposed by Cllr Jody Power and seconded by Cllr John Pratt.