Calls for Cooley public to be heard on proposed Greenway routes

The Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council, Independent Cllr Kevin Callan, has said that he has serious concerns about the viability of the routes proposed for the Dundalk Bay to Carlingford Greenway and that his meetings and conversations with residents, farmers and business people in the potentially impacted areas have further emphasised the concerns people have about the proposed routes as not workable.

Louth County Council, with the support of Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), is developing proposals for the project. The study area for the proposed greenway project encompasses the Regional Centre of Dundalk, and the town of Carlingford, along with the interconnecting road network.

The R173 Regional Road is the main route connecting Dundalk with Carlingford, and, along with other regional and local roads in the study area are seen as having no provision for pedestrians and cyclists, for reasons including, high vehicle speeds, narrow road widths and lack of segregated facilities.

The public has been urged to participate in the second non-statutory public consultation (Option Selection) for the proposed greenway. The aim of the public consultation is to receive feedback on the Route Corridor Options to assist the project team in the decision-making process when further refining the corridor options and selecting the emerging preferred route corridor.

The date for making submissions in relation to Public Consultation No.2 has been extended to 6 September. Details in relation to making submissions can be found at www.dundalkcarlingfordgreenway.ie

Members of the local community in the Cooley Peninsula voiced huge concerns over Louth County Council's plans for a greenway from Dundalk Bay to Carlingford at two public meetings in July, along with farmers, landowners and some members of the local community in Cooley, holding a protest at Louth County Council offices in July, against plans for the new greenway.

In a statement from Cllr Kevin Callan, following meetings held with residents at Greenore on Saturday, along with Cllr Ciarán Fisher, the Cathaoirleach said:“Any scheme like this that could potentially cross farmland land and impact on residential property must have the support of the community it is being placed in and unless there is this buy in and support, the project in my opinion cannot work”.

Cllr Callan said that he has spent time in Greenore meeting with groups, individual residents and business people as well as environmental groups who have all raised objections to the proposed routes. “As public representative and member of the County Council I feel that I have an obligation and duty to support people in their community”, he continued.

“Between now and the closing period of the non statutory consultation process, I will continue to sit with and listen to people who want to put their points across. I strongly encourage people to put in their views, opinions, observations and objections via the consultation process at www.dundalkcarlingfordgreenway.ie.

“I also thank Cllr Ciaran Fisher who also called in to listen to a number of the people who took the time to meet me.”