Cycleway between Finea and Abbeylara considered

A new cycleway could be on the horizon for north Westmeath. At the March meeting of the Municipal District of Mullingar Kinnegad, Cllr Paddy Hill proposed that Westmeath County Council, in conjunction with Longford County Council, carry out a feasibility study in order to provide a walk and cycleway between Finea and Abbeylara.

The executive response was that the suggestion could be considered in the context of the 2022 Outdoor Recreation applications.

Cllr Hill said the route would cross the River Inny and up to Finea, and could be extended further in time.

"Longford County Council has already carried out studies in relation to this and have received funding for their part, and are certainly anxious that there would be a joint venture between the counties," Cllr Hill said, adding that there had been talks about the project three years earlier, but Westmeath County Council had not progressed them.

"I think it will be a great project. It will be very safe," he said, and would be of great benefit to Finea and Abbeylara.

"The infrastructure is there already and a lot of it is going through Coillte land, where there are good roads, so it wouldn’t take a huge amount of money."

Cllr Denis Leonard supported the call, saying the more journeys made on foot or by bike, the greater the effect it has on the air, and from a recreational perspective it would help attract tourists and visitors to those areas.

Cllr Hazel Smyth was also in favour of the proposal: "I think it’s a really great opportunity for us and Longford County Council to collaborate to create a really great amenity for both counties," she said.

Also in support was Cllr Frank McDermott, who said it represented a great opportunity.