ONGOING talk with landowners is essential regarding the development of the €80m West Clare Railway Greenway, a county councillor for the area has stressed.
A third round of public consultation for the Kilrush to Kilkee section of the West Clare Railway Greenway concluded last week. It involved displaying the emerging preferred route corridor and encouraging feedback from the public and potentially affected landowners.
All landowners along the proposed corridor received an invite to individually view and discuss the proposal with the project team.
Work on the option selection report for the Ennis to Ennistymon section continues and is due to be completed in the second quarter of 2024.
For the sections from Ennistymon to Miltown Malbay and Moyasta, the project team are finalising the consultation report following the first round of public consultation.
In total, the West Clare Railway Greenway is set to span 85km and is split into the four sections. An opening date of 2025 had previously been set by Council officials in 2022 but last June revised estimates were detailed were it was outlined that the local authority intends to submit an application to An Bord Pleanála by 2024 with the potential of starting construction by 2027.
Funding of €1.7m has been allocated to the local authority by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) for the West Clare Railway Greenway to date. The biggest sum has gone towards to the Kilrush to Kilkee section (€800,000) followed by Ennis to Ennistymon (€650,000) with €125,000 each for Ennistymon to Miltown Malbay and Miltown Malbay to Moyasta.
Speaking at the April meeting of Clare County Council, Cllr Rita McInerney (FF) commended the ongoing work relating to the Greenway. She cautioned, “emphasis needs to be put on ongoing talks with landowners, it is about the time meeting the people on the ground and it is important to take the time and ensure people are met on the ground in relation to the project”.
