Long distance path proposal

Long distance path proposal

22 February 2017

THREE new walking and cycling routes stretching almost 40 miles in length could be developed across the district as part of an ambitious new initiative being spearheaded by the Department for Infrastructure.

Greenways have already been developed in several areas across the Province and now Newry, Mourne and Down Council is examining the feasibility of developing more, utilising the route of the former Belfast and County Down Railway.

While it is still very early days, the largest route would stretch 18 miles to link Downpatrick with Comber. The other potential routes are Downpatrick to Newcastle and Downpatrick to Ardglass.

Much of the land that would be required to develop the new routes is privately owned, although some sections of the proposed route between Downpatrick and Newcastle are owned by the National Trust.

The plan is for the new Greenways to link with existing walking and cycling paths, for example, the existing Comber Greenway and the currently under construction Connswater Community Greenway in Belfast.

Newry, Mourne and Down Council secured funding from the Department of Infrastructure to produce feasibility studies into the suggested local routes, and local people were given an opportunity on Monday to meet with the consultants in charge of the process to outline their views.

A representative from Copius Consulting was in Newcastle and Downpatrick to hear the views of landowners and those interested in the new walking and cycling routes, explaining the feasibility studies form part of the application process to secure capital funding to progress the development of the schemes to the next stage.

Applications to the government department have to be submitted by March 10 and anyone who was not able to meet with consultants this week can complete an on-line survey before the end of this month.

Consultant, Darren McArdle, said the development of the suggested new trails will “not be without issues,” emphasising the project is very much at the concept stage, with the focus on the feasibility of the project.

“We are trying to tease out at this stage if it is something people would be interested in and is it something they would use? From the local council’s perspective, it is keen for people to move towards healthier lifestyles and choices, moving people from cars into cycling and walking,” he continued.

Mr McArdle said the consultants will pull together the views of as many people as they can, confirming that identifying every landowner involved would take a significantly long period of time.

“The outline business case has to be completed by next Friday, March 3. Nothing has been set in stone and all we are trying to do at this stage is show what a Greenway along the old railway line would look like, what it will take to achieve it and what the issues are going to be. Ultimately, land ownership is going to be a huge issue, particularly for rural areas and farmers,” he continued.

Mr McArdle said the first session on Monday in Newcastle to discuss the potential development of Greenways was pretty well attended, as was the early evening session in Downpatrick.

He added: “Monday was about listening to people’s views. Do they see this as a positive or are there potential issues? What we are trying to impress is that nothing is fixed here. After the outline business case has been submitted there will be a secondary stage which will lead to more detailed engagement and consultation stakeholder process.”

David Patterson, the co-ordinator for the Downpatrick District Electoral Area, said Newry, Mourne and Down Council will put forward a bid for funding for the Greenways alongside other local authorities, with the Department for Infrastructure then deciding which to support.

“A large number of councils are involved in a similar process to ourselves and once all the outline business cases have been examined, the Department will assess which are the strongest to progress to the next stage of the process,” he added.

The online survey can be completed at www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/greenways_development.