An East Clare councillor has said it is “a constant battle to upgrade footpaths” and encouraged the public to stop parking their vehicles on paths.
New footpath infrastructure is to be constructed in Crusheen, Clarisford, Dromindoora, Kilmurry, Quin and Tulla within the Killaloe Municipal District this year.
This detail came to light following a motion from Cllr Joe Cooney (FG) who also queried if the walking trail from Killaloe would be connected to the footpaths in Tuamgraney.
Senior executive engineer, Niamh Madden said that funding streams would be examined “to ascertain what might be most suitable to extend the new walking trail to Tuamgraney in the future. Presently, walkers can exit this trail at the junction of the R463 and the Ballyvanin Road and continue walking along a further existing trail, which connects to Tuamgraney just south of St. Cronan’s Church”.
Cllr Cooney maintained it was positive to see a commitment towards improving footpath infrastructure, “there are a lot of people out walking at the minute and it is good we are upgrading these footpaths, it will be a big asset to those areas”. At present the trail is left short at Raheen, adding to this “will really make the project if this section could be completed,” he stated.
“It is a constant battle to upgrade footpaths and keep them in order. Where possible people shouldn’t be parking on footpaths, they are there for a reason but heavy goods vehicles cause an impact. To keep footpath infrastructure in good shape, we need people to keep off them,” Cllr Alan O’Callaghan (FF) commented.
With people able to walk from Killaloe to Tuamgraney, Cllr Pat Burke (FG) agreed with Cooney that it would be nice to complete the extra bit. Active travel funding “has been a godsend in a sense,” Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) observed.
Morgan Lahiffe, senior executive officer detailed that an additional 150m of work on the Blueway Trail was already completed but said all points would be noted. “There is connectivity to Tuamgraney village but I do acknowledge the councillor’s concerns”.
