Public consultation commences on greenway between Shannon Harbour and Athlone

Consultation events on two proposed greenway projects are being held in the region next week.

The projects involved are greenways between Athlone and Shannon Harbour via Shannonbridge and between Kilbeggan and Mullingar.

Regarding the first greenway, Offaly County Council, Westmeath County Council, Tobin Consulting Engineers and LUC consulting are holding a drop-in consultation event on Tuesday October 12, for local communities to have their say.

The workshop is designed to help plan the route of the greenway between Athlone and Shannon Harbour. The event will be held between noon and 8pm at the Ballinahown Community Centre.

All are welcome to drop in at any point within these times, for as long as convenient. Covid-19 protection measures will be in place, including a clearly identifiable Covid-19 Compliance Officer.

The project, which is funded under the 2020 Carbon Tax Fund, will involve extensive public consultation and participation and is starting with a ‘blank sheet’ in the examination of possible route corridors.

Consultants say they would very much appreciate your thoughts on where you think the greenway should be routed and the issues and opportunities which are evident. Response from this initial consultation will be translated into a number of greenway route options for further consultation later in the project.

The greenway will aim to link the Grand Canal Greenway at Shannon Harbour and the Old Rail Trail (Dublin Galway Greenway) at Athlone, via the industrial heritage peatlands in west Offaly, and the internationally important monastic site at Clonmacnoise.

The project is being project managed by Offaly County Council, but the study area will encompass parts of both Offaly and Westmeath. A consultation hub https://shannon-monastic-greenway-luc.hub.arcgis.com/ has been devised for further information and to leave your feedback.

A similar consultation event is being hosted by the same partners on a new greenway between Kilbeggan and Mullingar.

The event will be held between noon and 8pm at the Kilbeggan Harbour Centre,

The greenway will aim to link the Grand Canal (Kilbeggan Branch) Greenway at Kilbeggan and the Old Rail Trail (Dublin Galway Greenway) at Mullingar, via Lough Ennell and other important amenity areas in the area. The project is being managed by Offaly County Council on behalf of Westmeath County Council under a Section 149A agreement.

More information is available on the hub: https://kilbeggan-mullingar-greenway-consultation-hub-luc.hub.arcgis.com/.

If you would like any further information on either project, contact project manager Brian Gallagher at Brian.Gallagher@tobin.ie.