Louth councillors told greenway process still in early stages

Director of Service with Louth County Council, Mr David Jones, told members at the Louth County Council July meeting, that it was still very early days in the process, and the options that are in the public domain at present are all options that are available at present.

Mr Jones was responding to comments from Cllr Andrea McKevitt and Cllr Marianne Butler on the planned Dundalk to Carlingford Greenway. Cllr McKevitt had first raised the matter at the July meeting, highlighting the public meetings held last week and the concerns voiced by landowners who opposed the greenway.

Cllr McKevitt said that planned greenway would cause a large divide in the community pitting neighbours against neighbours and farmers against farmers. Cllr McKevitt went on to say that funding should be invested in current amenities to properly maintan them and added that no one in the Cooley Peninsula wanted a greenway in their area.

Cllr Marianne Butler said that she wants people to engage with the process. Cllr Butler said that the huge economic benefit greenways have had in places like Waterford and Mayo can now be seen. Cllr Butler went on to say that at this stage, it is just route options that are being discussed.

She added that they have all welcomed the Narrow Water Bridge, but pointed out that it is part of a bigger plan and there is no point in the Narrow Water Bridge bringing people walking and cycling as far as Carlingford and going no further. Cllr Butler said that people want that type of slow tourism and urged that people in the area engage with the project team on the process.

Mr Jones told the members that they would be using all the feedback they receive to develop preferred routes for the greenway, and that the concerns being voiced by some at the moment, would disappear as the preferred route emerges over the coming months.

He said that the public consultation and the dialogue with the local community will help determine the best route that would best suit environmental considerations, feasibility, rural regeneration and sustainability for the local community. Mr Jones stressed that they were very much at the early stages of the process and that the greenways form part of a local and national policy, adding that the benefits of the current Omeath Greenway have already been seen. 

He added however that he does recognise the concerns of those against it and urged stakeholders to still engage with Louth County Council on the project, further adding that the process will take a number of years to complete but they will reciprocate with people who engage with them on it.