New facilities for Old Rail Trail Greenway

A range of items intended to enhance the Royal Canal greenway are on the way, Green Party councillor, Hazel Smyth, has been assured by the executive of the Mullingar Kinnegad Municipal District.

At the meeting on Monday, Cllr Ken Glynn was briefed on plans for enhancements to the Rail Trail greenway at Castletown.

At the district’s monthly meeting, Cllr Smyth asked when drinking water points will be established in Mullingar and along the greenway, while Cllr Glynn asked if amenities, such as drinking water taps, bike repair stops, toilet facilities and others are planned for the Old Rail Trail, which, he said, are essential to bring it closer to similar greenways around the country.

“A drinking water fountain was included as part of a successful application to enhance the infrastructure to the Royal Canal,” Cllr Smyth was informed in a response that went on to reveal that additional enhancements including story boards, benches and picnic tables, shelters, and bike tools/e-charging points, are currently “in procurement stage”.

In response to a query by Cllr Smyth on when the items are likely to be put in place, director of services Martin Murray indicated that the target is to have them installed before the end of this year. Cllr Smyth asked where any new water fountain was to be located and Mr Murray said that detail is not yet available but that it was likely to be located where the greatest footfall was, which, therefore, would mean “near Mullingar”.

Castletown

The response to Cllr Glynn’s query stated that a funding application to establish a direct link between Castletown Geoghegan and Castletown Station was successful in 2019 and that this funding will make the current facilities of the village available to all users of the Old Rail Trail.

The executive went on to add that an additional funding application under the Towns and Villages accelerated 3 programme was submitted for Streamstown water fountain, and the council is awaiting a decision on that. The council will also be making further applications under the Towns and Villages scheme.

Cars

At the same meeting, a query was made by Cllr John Shaw on whether the Municipal District had received any reports in relation to cars using the Royal Canal Way between Riverstown and Coralstown.

In their response, officials informed Cllr Shaw that this matter had been discussed with Waterways Ireland: “The section from Riverstown to Footy’s Bridge is gated and there is no issue with cars. The section from Footy’s Bridge to Coralstown is public road L5029 and is open to vehicular traffic. There is no record of having received any reports in relation to cars using this section of the Royal Canal at this location.”