Clarity sought on future of new south Wicklow greenway
Public consultations took place across south Wicklow – in Arklow, Aughrim and Shillelagh – in early October 2023 to gather input on the emerging preferred route and invite the public to provide feedback before the preferred route is decided.
Cllr Peter Stapleton sought an update at the July monthly meeting of Wicklow Council and stated that there was some anxiety amongst communities along the 38km route in relation to the delay in publishing the final preferred route which is a crucial element in the planning process.
Addressing the Chief Executive Emer O' Gorman, Cllr Stapleton said:
'I note just in your report there has been a slight update to talk about the meeting that happened in April but apart from that there's no update on the progress report that was listed in the Chief Executive's Report when I joined the Council a year ago.'
'I hate the word task force, I think the public is basically allergic to it at this point, but maybe some of regular meeting between your team and elected reps would be great.'
Ms O' Gorman confirmed that a meeting will be organised to provide an update on the project.
The move comes after members of the Arklow and District Chamber of Commerce recently met with Wicklow/Wexford TD Brian Brennan to discuss key opportunities and challenges facing the local business community.
Among the topics raised was the future status of the greenway which received a funding boost earlier this year worth €550,000.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Irish Times
State set to devote extra funds to big projects, but where is the money coming from?
When the Government publishes its key economic documents on Tuesday, the natural focus will be on where the extra investment is being targeted. A key question involves additional resources being devoted to projects in housing, water, energy and transport in the revised National Development Plan. What will this mean for other parts of the budget and where is the money going to come from? We should get some clue from the second major document, the Summer Economic Statement (SES), which looks at the outlook for the budget. Here, the key question is whether extra spending has left less room for day-to-day supports and tax reductions to be factored into the budget. The SES will give some indication of room for manoeuvre in the budget – in other words, what the package on the day will cost. The budget ministers, Paschal Donohoe and Jack Chambers , are likely to indicate that less money is available this year. READ MORE David McWilliams on how 'big incentives' to build could save Dublin city Listen | 36:51 They are also likely to repeat the assertion that there is no cost-of-living package this year. How both of these commitments survive the run-up to the actual budget remains to be seen. A key issue to watch for concerns budget overruns and whether the Government is going to take action to stop them happening this year. The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council, the budget watchdog, has said that the spending allocations for this year were flawed from day one, because they failed to build in overruns in 2024. With the council estimating overruns of €2 billion-plus this year, does the Cabinet plan to rein these in? And what does it mean for 2026? The goal of keeping spending growth to 5 per cent a year, set in 2021, was quickly consigned to the dustbin. So, what will now replace it? Or is it just a case of spending whatever cash is available every year?
Irish Independent
7 days ago
- Irish Independent
Long-awaited road safety upgrade in Navan delayed over funding shortfall
Councillor Yemi Adenuga sought clarity on the status of the planned works at the Circle K junction on the Proudstown Road (Aisling Place x R162), which underwent a five-week public consultation in 2023. She specifically questioned the causes behind the postponement and asked whether interim safety measures would be introduced in light of persistent red light violations and illegal exits from the Circle K service station, and the 'serious risk' to schoolchildren attending St. Oliver Plunkett and St. Paul's Primary Schools. Last year, a major new safety scheme on the Proudstown Road at the junction of Beaufort Place, Blackcastle, and the Circle K garage was unveiled to councillors at a meeting. The proposals include two additional controlled pedestrian crossings: one just off the junction at the entrance to Blackcastle and St. Oliver's Church, and one on the main road north of Circle K close to the bus stop. In its response, the Council confirmed that while the scheme has reached "shovel-ready" stage — with key components in stock, road safety audits completed, and ESB connections secured — the project was shelved after 'tender prices returned were significantly higher than budget forecasts.' 'The Local Authority did not have availability of additional funds and resources to deliver the project in its original planned form due to other commitments of delivering the LDR4 project requiring the upgrade of the Proudstown x Clonmageddan Road junction,' the Council said. 'We are also in discussions with the Circle K service station to get entrance and boundary works completed which will control the entry and exit of vehicles from the station into the junction. These works are required to be completed by the service station prior to delivery of the planned scheme.' Meath County Council added: 'The scheme is at shovel ready stage with ESB connection agreements in place, Road Safety Audits completed and critical long lead time components in stock, however the required funding is still outstanding.' Despite the funding gap, the council said they are currently in talks with the National Transport Authority (NTA) to secure partial funding that would allow for the installation of controlled pedestrian crossings. These would serve the children attending St. Oliver Plunkett and St. Paul's Primary Schools, both located within the high-risk zone. 'St. Oliver's School is on the Safe Routes to School programme for next year,' the council said, 'but we intend to deliver the controlled crossings this year, subject to the funding being made available.' Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Adenuga said the delay was 'disappointing'. 'This is really disappointing and somewhat frustrating. I know that many will feel the same. I will keep pressing for the progress of this project,' she said.
Irish Independent
16-07-2025
- Irish Independent
Clarity sought on future of new south Wicklow greenway
A preferred route has yet to be published as the engineering team behind the project finalise their engagement with local landowners. Public consultations took place across south Wicklow – in Arklow, Aughrim and Shillelagh – in early October 2023 to gather input on the emerging preferred route and invite the public to provide feedback before the preferred route is decided. Cllr Peter Stapleton sought an update at the July monthly meeting of Wicklow Council and stated that there was some anxiety amongst communities along the 38km route in relation to the delay in publishing the final preferred route which is a crucial element in the planning process. Addressing the Chief Executive Emer O' Gorman, Cllr Stapleton said: 'I note just in your report there has been a slight update to talk about the meeting that happened in April but apart from that there's no update on the progress report that was listed in the Chief Executive's Report when I joined the Council a year ago.' 'I hate the word task force, I think the public is basically allergic to it at this point, but maybe some of regular meeting between your team and elected reps would be great.' Ms O' Gorman confirmed that a meeting will be organised to provide an update on the project. The move comes after members of the Arklow and District Chamber of Commerce recently met with Wicklow/Wexford TD Brian Brennan to discuss key opportunities and challenges facing the local business community. Among the topics raised was the future status of the greenway which received a funding boost earlier this year worth €550,000.
