Step forward for proposed Shannon Harbour to Banagher Greenway
‘ I know there are a number of local people who have advocated for it and put in a lot of work behind the scenes over the years’
THE proposed Greenway extension from Shannon Harbour to Banagher has made a welcome step forward.
Last week Offaly County Council said it was advertising for engineering consultants to assess the proposed route. The tender for the Engineering consultancy contract has an estimated value of €50,000. The contract will entail looking at the various options for the new walking and cycling link between Shannon Harbour and Banagher, including looking at the disused Clara to Banagher railway line.
The Council said the link will "improve access and permeability between communities" while encouraging "a shift from private cars towards walking and cycling".
The Engineering assessment, which will probably take two months, will take account of environmental and ecological considerations, including flood-risk information, protected habitats and designated areas such as Special Protection Areas (SPAs), Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs). Relevant TII and National Transport Authority cycleway design guidance will also inform the work. Following the assessment there will be the usual public consultation period.
The deadline for tender applications for the project to be submitted to Offaly County Council is Tuesday, September 15, at 4pm.
Former County Councillor Clare Claffey, who lives in Banagher, warmly welcomed the news. “The Shannon Harbour to Banagher Greenway is something I was very proud to advocate for during my time as a Councillor,” she remarked, “so I’m absolutely delighted to see the plans progressing. A lot of work has gone into getting this to where it is today, and I know there are a number of local people who have advocated for it and put in a lot of work behind the scenes over the years. It’s great to see those efforts helping to move the project forward.”