More than 130 residents against Grange recreational hub

Some 132 residents in the Ballymahon Road area of Mullingar registered objections to a ‘recreational hub’, consisting of bike trails, a junior bike track and a climbing wall that Westmeath County council is planning to install on the green area running alongside the Royal Canal.

The subject came up at last week’s meeting of Westmeath County Council as members of the council considered the chief executive’s Report in respect of the Greenway Recreational Hub at Grange.

Council cathaoirleach, Cllr Ken Glynn, spoke at the meeting of his disappointment that the views of the residents were being overruled.

Chief executive Pat Gallagher told the meeting that the plan – which includes provision of a cycle trail from the roundabout at Newbrook to Market Point – was part of the council’s expansion of its green recreational trails throughout the county.

“This location has been identified as an important hub within that overall plan,” he said, adding that funding for the project has been secured.

Cllr Hazel Smyth drew attention to the fact that the original proposal was for the bike track to go as far as the Green Bridge, but said that there were calls to have it end at Market Point.

She believed the Market Point suggestion made sense as the Green Bridge is a dead end.

Director of services, Martin Murray, confirmed that the portion of land between Market Point and the Green Bridge is not included in the scheme.

A welcome for the project came from Cllr Denis Leonard, who said it was a massive investment, while Mullingar mayor, Cllr Bill Collentine, said the scheme would be a great amenity for the west side of Mullingar, particularly for those who live in apartments or who don’t have gardens.

Cllr Aoife Davitt said that it would be a fantastic facility. She stated that she had met residents, but believed the council had explained the reasoning behind the development.

Praise for it came also from Cllr Mick Dollard, who opined that it would actually serve to enhance the value of houses in the area and added that he would like to see a similar facility in Mullingar East.

Cllr Emily Wallace said that Minister Peter Burke had worked on the project, and said the difficulty in securing the sort of funding involved should not be underestimated.

She went on to say that while concerns had been raised by local residents, the council should work on those concerns.

She also suggested the installation of CCTV as a means of putting fears to rest.

Cllr Frank McDermott said it was unfortunate that his colleague Cllr Andrew Duncan was not present for the meeting, because it was something on which he had worked courageously over the years.

Reservations

More serious reservations were, however, expressed by Cllr Glynn, who said he had represented that area of Mullingar since he was first elected 22 years ago and had given an assurance to the residents that he would be their voice.

“With that in mind, I cannot support this Part 8 in its current form,” he said.

Cllr Glynn stated that a submission against the development had been made in names of 132 households in Oaklands, Woodlawns, The Moorings and Willowbrook. The residents would have been happy for the project to progress if the bike park and climbing wall were not part of it.

He went on to state that while disappointed on behalf of the residents, he would have to accept the majority view as expressed by his fellow councillors.

Hub to benefit locals and tourists, CEO tells meeting

Nine public submissions relating to the Greenway Recreational Hub at Grange were made to Westmeath County Council: four of these were petitions signed by a total of 132 residents from Woodlands, Oaklawns, Willowbrook and The Moorings.

There were also submissions from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) and Irish Water.

Setting out the details of the project, chief executive Pat Gallagher said the hub would benefit both the local community of Mullingar and its surroundings in addition to visitors and tourists to the area.

The recreation hub is, his report explained, to be sited adjoining the recently developed Newbrook Amenity Area at its south westernmost end and encompassing existing green space which is defined by the Royal Canal to the south, and the Mullingar to Ballymahon Road, which straddles its boundary to the north.

It is to consist of a greenway track, a junior bike park/pump track and activity wall and cycling and walking trails.

The 1.6km greenway track, three metres wide, is to run along the northern bank of the Royal Canal from Newbrook Bridge towards the Green Bridge.

The surfacing will make it suitable for cyclists, pedestrians, buggies and wheelchair users.

At present, there is there an unsurfaced, grassed towpath which is informally used by the local community. It is restricted beyond Market Point.

The junior bike park/pump track and activity wall are to be located on a 0.19 hectare plot opposite Woodlawns.

Mr Gallagher’s document explains that proposals for a replacement pedestrian bridge over the canal at Lakepoint, and for a playground don’t form part of the current proposal.

In response to points raised in the submissions, he said that a suitably qualified professional will be engaged to undertake An Ecological Impact Assessment of the site.

In addition, an ecological clerk of works will be appointed to oversee the project works; and an experienced, licensed bat surveyor engaged to carry out surveying and determine the status of bats on this site prior to the commencement of works.