Looped walk footpath to Delvin school proposed
A Delvin resident has said that a looped footpath from the Stoneyford Park housing estate to St Ernan’s National School is a proposal which will benefit the whole community.
David Jones, who with a number of locals has been working on the initiative, says that many children from Delvin and its environs travel to St Ernan’s NS by car, but would walk or cycle if there was a safer route.
David says that if the proposed stretch of footpath received funding, it would reduce car journeys, thus reducing carbon emissions and also congestion around the school, making the road safer to commute on.
“The footpath would also benefit the local community in becoming active and healthy, by creating a looped walk around the block of the school road, formerly known as Moore’s road,” he said.
It would, he added, also encourage new hedgerow or wildflower seeds to be planted to help with biodiversity, and to replace the existing hedge in places which may have to be removed to allow for sufficient room for a wider footpath for pedestrians, parents with buggies and local wheelchair users.
“The potential this looped walk has is endless, with locals suggesting that a number of carved tree sculptures be added, and possibly a number of bird nesting boxes, which I’m sure the local Men’s Shed would be more than willing to help out with,” says David.
David says that he and his friend Dermot Mcenroe have been working on this project along with local Sinn Féin TD Johnny Guirke, and they have recruited a number of committee members who are ready to go if this project was to receive funding in the future. They also hope it has the support of the wider community.
“We are open to new members and I would strongly encourage them to get in touch if they would like to be part of our committee to make this project a possibility,” says David, acting chair of the Delvin Amenity Group. “The date for our AGM will be announced shortly.”
The group has applied for funding through Westmeath County Council’s new portal system for the continuation of the footpath, and also for traffic calming measures, which he hopes funding is made available for.
David says that this project is just one of many envisioned by the group, and he hopes that the working committee will eventually work on what he calls phase two of the footpath project – another looped walk in the area which would further make Delvin more pedestrian-friendly.
“I hope Delvin gets the fair share of funding it very much deserves, and I would strongly encourage all elected public representatives to get behind this project, which many will benefit from,” he concluded.