Co- op group vow to keep lobbying for greenway
SLIGO Greenway Co- op has urged all parties with influence to do everything possible to bring a greenway to Sligo.
In a statement, Sligo Greenway Co- op vowed to keep fighting.
“We will of course be making a submission to the new Strategy for the Future Development of Greenways but we will also be continuing our lobbying and discussions at a local level with Sligo County Council,” the statement read.
The statement continued: “The current model for the creation of greenways is through partnerships between local County Councils and Government with the consent and agreement of Irish Rail.
“The climate is now perfect for greenways; a need for employment, tourism and local amenities coupled with available funding form government.
Sligo must do all in its power to take advantage of this great opportunity without further delay.” the Co- op statement went on.
The Greenway lobby group are also urging the general public to show support for the concept of the greenway to taking out membership in the Co- op through their website sligogreenway.com.
The Co- op has continually highlighted, in recent years, the value of the disused railway running between Collooney and Bellaghty for development as a greenway, bringing employment and tourists to the region.
The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross T. D, in recent weeks has launched a public consultation process on the future development of Greenways.
The Minister published a public consultation paper on a “Strategy for the Future Development of Greenways” and is inviting submissions from interested parties on the issues raised in the paper by 14th July.
At that launch, the minister went on: “Some of the Greenways that have been developed to date have been outstanding success stories for their localities.
He added: “One of the most well- known, of course, is the Great Western Greenway in Mayo and, more recently, we have seen the level of interest that the Waterford Greenway has garnered since it’s opening in March this year.
“We have an opportunity, through our commitment in the Programme for Partnership Government, to build more Greenways throughout Ireland and to provide more localities with the opportunity to benefit from such investment in the same way that communities in Mayo and Waterford have.”
The Minister also announced funding for a number of green- way projects underway saying – “I am also pleased to announce further funding for the Galway to Dublin Greenway to progress elements of the Greenway in Counties Kildare and Meath; this will build on the work started last year in those counties.”