Disability access and connectivity key CORP objectives in Longford

Improved accessibility for people with disabilities and enhanced walking trails connectivity are two of the key objectives in the draft Longford County Outdoor Recreation Plan 2025-2030 which was presented to county councillors last week.

In late 2022, the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD) launched a new National Outdoor Recreation Strategy for the whole of Ireland and CORP was an element of that plan.

The County Outdoor Recreation Plan (CORP) is a strategy developed to promote sustainable outdoor recreation and details were given to local representatives at last Wednesday's June meeting of the local authority.

Outscape were appointed in January to deliver seven CORP plans for Longford, Meath, Waterford, Fingal, Sligo, Wicklow and Monaghan.

Executive director Caro-Lynne Ferris commended Longford for having an excellent range of outdoor recreation activities such as the Royal Canal Greenway and a large number of community trails and paddling trails.

Ms Ferris said the overarching goal of the strategy, known as "Embracing Ireland's Outdoors 2023-2025," is to encourage sustainable development of the outdoor recreation sector while benefiting communities and the environment.

She stated stakeholder engagement was key developing the CORP and there was a very extensive consultation process with national, regional and county organisations as well as three public consultation events and an online survey.

"Outdoor recreation in County Longford is very much shaped by its physical attributes and the diverse landscape that is offered.

"The waterways and the array of walking trails are the primary outdoor recreation assets that county Longford has to offer.”

Ms Ferris stated the ambition for Longford during the five year plan is "to ensure that county needs are prioritised", as well as being aligned with the national strategy.

"It's very much to bring people together across each of the counties to make it much more planned and coordinated,” she said.

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Ms Ferris stated every CORP is 'community led' with an onus on ensuring that they get value for money.

Ms Ferris said they surprisingly learnt that“ very few people had heard of the Midlands Trail Network “despite the size of that project and the significance of that project for the county,” she added.

The representatives praised her presentation and Cllr Seamus Butler said the county has benefited from quite a few developments.

"We have a good track record to build on but it seems to be about connectivity and both people living inside Longford and outside it don't know about these things.”

Ms Ferris said there was room for improvement when it came to accessibility for people with disabilities.

She also stated there was potential for a 'Blueway', a network of stunning trails running on and alongside idyllic lakes, canals and rivers to be established at the River Camlin.

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Cllr Pat O'Toole (pictured above) said he was "very excited" by the proposal for a 'Blueway' along the River Camlin, which he described as great asset for people in south county Longford and the north Midlands.