Bord na Móna plan for second Offaly cycleway project
Plans for the development of a recreational shared cycle and walkway on Bord na Móna lands in Offaly, which would include the repurposing of 18,958 meters of existing former rail bed and 827 meters along pre-existing machine access routes, have been published.
Bord na Móna Energy Ltd, has submitted a planning application to Offaly County Council for the proposed recreational shared cycle and walkway amenity.
The amenity is planned for Bord na Móna lands within the Offaly townlands of Knockballyboy, Clonad, Rathfeston, Gorteenkeel, Island, Clonarrow or Riverlyons, Drumcaw or Mountlucas, Esker Beg, Killeen, Ballyhugh, Mullalough or Cavemount, Coole, Toberdaly, Newtown, Ballycon, Esker More, Colgagh, and Clongarret.
The new development will connect into the existing Grand Canal Way, within the townlands of Coole and Knockballyboy, the Public Amenity Facilities at Mountlucas Wind Farm, and the Cloncreen Wind Farm Amenity Track.
The construction of car and bicycle parking facilities at a number of gateway locations along the proposed route, along with EV charging facilities, also form part of the plans.
Upgrade works are to be carried out to the Croghan Tippler Bridge and the Ballycon Rail Bridge as part of the project, and a new pedestrian and cycle bridge, extending to 30.5 metres, is to be constructed across the Grand Canal in the townland of Coole, and adjacent to the existing Grand Canal lift bridge.
The plans also include wayfinding and interpretative signage at Gateway locations; minor rest points and 7,636 metres of ecological fencing and screening.
The planning application is accompanied by a Natura Impact Statement (NIS).
This latest tourism project being planned by Bord na Móna is the second such project after the company lodged plans last year for a major cycle and walkway trail on its lands in the townslands of Cloncraff/Bloomhill; Clonascra; Ballyduff; Clonaderg; Doon Demesne; Lackagh Beg; Lackagh More; Cormore and Corbeg; Corbane; Ballydaly; Kilcolgan Beg; Turraun; Leabeg; Leamore; Oughter; Derrymore; Bunakeeran; Lumcloon and Broughal.
That project, which is due to be decided on by council planners this month, would involve the repurposing of almost 17,000 metres of existing former rail bed in the county.
The two projects form part of the Midlands Trail Network, which is a serviced network of inclusive off-road trails where local people and visitors can explore the Midlands region by bike, e-bike and on foot. The trails will extend across the five Midland counties of Offaly, Roscommon, Longford, Westmeath and Tipperary on lands which were previously used by Bord na Móna for peat extraction.
The latest Offaly tourism project by Bord na Móna is being planned against a backdrop of EU Just Transition Funding being made available to Failte Ireland to "support the transition of the Midlands to a carbon neutral destination". The fund is designed to support projects which have significant regenerative impacts on local communities and peatlands.
A planning report prepared by McCarthy Keville O’Sullivan Ltd (MKO) on behalf of Bord na Móna Energy Ltd, and which accompanies the latest planning application, states that proposed route of the Midlands Trail Network across Offaly consists of two separate routes (East and West), which will be subject to two separate planning applications. “The two routes are separated, but can be interconnected via the Grand Canal Greenway which passes through the East and West routes,” according to MKO.
Offaly County Council is due to make a decision on this latest planning application for a network of walking and cycleway trails in Offaly by March 23 next.