*The entrance to O’Callaghans Mills.
REMOVING a tree lined landscape on “a lovely entrance” to O’Callaghans Mills “would be a shame”, a senior engineer in Clare County Council has said.
In order to construct a footpath linking sections of O’Callaghans Mills, Cllr Conor Ryan (FG) has said that new trees could be sewn if the existing ones have to be removed in order to add the link in the East Clare village.
While he seconded the motion, Cllr Alan O’Callaghan (FF) voiced his opposition to removing the trees in the Mills. The local authority are also reluctant to interfere with the “beauty” of the village.
Cllr Ryan proposed that the County Council “in consultation with residents and landowners design plans and secure funding for the construction of a footpath and associated lighting to link the two halves of O’Callaghan’s Mills along the R466”.
Senior executive engineer, Declan Flanagan stated, “The connection between the two halves of O’Callaghan’s Mills is of huge importance to the local community in linking the existing housing developments to the National School, Community Centre, Church and GAA Grounds. A project of this nature will require a significant funding stream and detailed design. Approval will be required to dedicate lands to the project as land take will be involved”.
Recent meetings on the subject of traffic calming have been held in the Mills community, Flanagan outlined. The request for a potential path connecting both halves of the village was acknowledged.
Flanagan explained that further discussions would be required with the local community before progressing a detailed design. “As outlined to the community members, the beauty of entering the Village of O’Callaghan’s Mills is the tree lined landscape with trees crossing the R-466 giving the area a sense of place and part and parcel of a sign that one enters O’Callaghan’s Mills. Further consultation will be required with the local community and landowners in advance of detailed design. We will commit to drafting plans thereafter”.
Speaking at a meeting of the Killaloe Municipal District, Cllr Ryan noted of the response, “You have identified or acknowledged the serious need for a footpath linking the two halves of the village. It is something the community has been crying out for for years, it is reaching boiling point, we’re hitting winter and travelling the road at night is highly dangerous”. Meeting landowners and the community with a draft would be a positive first step, he said.
Building a footpath is a must but not at the expense of the scenery, Cllr O’Callaghan flagged. “You’ve an area and a gap in the middle, I wouldn’t be for taking out the trees that are there, it is a real natural beauty area, the path is a priority but I wouldn’t be for taking out the trees, they are lovely mature trees”.
Addressing the meeting, Flanagan advised that he met the local community along with Cllr Ryan and Clare TD, Joe Cooney (FG). “It is a lovely scenic area coming into O’Callaghans Mills, it would be a shame to do anything there, we need to get feedback from the community on what they want. The landowner has to be on-side and we’ve to be on the one sheet because we can’t have half wanting to take out trees and others not”. He added, “We can’t design something which is not desirable for the area, it is a lovely entrance to O’Callaghans Mills”.
“What the community wants is a footpath and the sooner it comes the better,” Cllr Ryan commented. “If there is a design maybe we will get the funding. As regards the trees, in a practical sense if they have to go then grand, there could be an agreement that new trees be sewn. A footpath would be very desirable indeed for safe pedestrian traffic”.
