Castlebar - Westport greenway

Does anybody have plans for where this is been routed ?

Dudda

It's not as simple as the Westport to Achill Greenway. They used the old disused railway track as the route for most of it so they already owned a lot of the land, access rights and existing bridges.

Obviously the Castlebar to Westport railway line is still in use so they can't use that. What's proposed is a route from Lough Lannagh to Islandeady (Phase one) and eventually onto Westport (Phase two).

The preferred route is a trail to skirt along the edge of Lough Lannagh and Islandeady Lough.

Cllr Harry Barrett said
"The development will be subject to local landowner consensus by way of permissive access. It is proposed, to develop a dedicated 3 metre wide path for the purpose of both walking and cycling."

I think it's all very optimistic as gaining access rights from landowners who will inevitably look for compensation involves lots of solicitors and takes far longer and costs far more then originally planned.

It's unfortunate as I think it would really benefit Castlebar, Westport and the surrounding areas.

Mickeroo

Dudda wrote: »

It's not as simple as the Westport to Achill Greenway. They used the old disused railway track as the route for most of it so they already owned a lot of the land, access rights and existing bridges.

Obviously the Castlebar to Westport railway line is still in use so they can't use that. What's proposed is a route from Lough Lannagh to Islandeady (Phase one) and eventually onto Westport (Phase two).

The preferred route is a trail to skirt along the edge of Lough Lannagh and Islandeady Lough.

Cllr Harry Barrett said
"The development will be subject to local landowner consensus by way of permissive access. It is proposed, to develop a dedicated 3 metre wide path for the purpose of both walking and cycling."

I think it's all very optimistic as gaining access rights from landowners who will inevitably look for compensation involves lots of solicitors and takes far longer and costs far more then originally planned.

It's unfortunate as I think it would really benefit Castlebar, Westport and the surrounding areas.

Apart from the railway being there its more or less the same situation as the Achill/Westport one. Very little if any of the railway was still owned by Iranroid Eireann and they were still relying on good will from the landowners to build it who received no compensation for handing over their land apart from some new fencing and gates.

nuac

Yes as Mickeroo says the Wpt-Achill line had almost all be sold to adjoining land owners c 1940. Most of these cooperated with the Co Council in allowing access and the works involved without any compensation.

Hope the same attitude obtains on Castlebar- westport extension

Dudda

Ya but wouldn't the original access rights have still existed for walkers like what's happening in the ongoing Lissadell Estate case in Sligo? They seam to last 150 years. I though that's why it was relatively easy to make the greenway.


I don't mind if I'm wrong as chances are it will be finished faster and cheaper which is what I'd prefer.

Mickeroo

Dudda wrote: »

Ya but wouldn't the original access rights have still existed for walkers like what's happening in the ongoing Lissadell Estate case in Sligo? They seam to last 150 years. I though that's why it was relatively easy to make the greenway.


I don't mind if I'm wrong as chances are it will be finished faster and cheaper which is what I'd prefer.

There was no walking rights to the old railway afaik.

nuac

Again agree with Mickeroo.

Those who bought parts of the old Wpt-Achill railway line obtained private property, free of any rights of way

There were covenants in the purchase deeds to maintain fences and drains along the portion purchased, but that is a separate matter


,

Does anybody know if the Lough Lannagh - Rehins wood greenway was ever completed ?
IS there plans to extend it to Westport ?

happyoutscan

They are currently (from what I've seen from the car) bringing a Greenway from Castlebar towards Turlough. Haven't noticed anything being worked on around Lough Lannagh etc so far, but haven't been down there in a while.

Irish Warri0r

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Does anybody know if the Lough Lannagh - Rehins wood greenway was ever completed ?
IS there plans to extend it to Westport ?

They are still working on it there is not to much left to do I ran it yesterday and apart from 1 bend its nearly finished.

Irish Warri0r

Irish Warri0r wrote: »

They are still working on it there is not to much left to do I ran it yesterday and apart from 1 bend its nearly finished.

What route does it take ? Is there any plans available for it ?

irishgeo

happyoutscan wrote: »

They are currently (from what I've seen from the car) bringing a Greenway from Castlebar towards Turlough. Haven't noticed anything being worked on around Lough Lannagh etc so far, but haven't been down there in a while.

they are working across the road from lough lannagh behind dunnes , looks like along the river.

Dudda

Here’s a map showing the Westport to Castlebar Greenway, Castlebar to Turlough Greenway and the new porposed N5 linking Westport and Castlebar

https://www.dropbox.com/s/qrfx7oszblw272o/Greenway%20Map.pdf

Irish Warri0r

Irish Warri0r wrote: »

They are still working on it there is not to much left to do I ran it yesterday and apart from 1 bend its nearly finished.

Is this the Lough Lannagh - Rehins wood greenway that you ran ?

I went to Rehins wood today, it appears that the council have made a wide footpath on the Newport road the whole way from the town to the woods. They have just used the existing hard shoulder of the road and raised it above the level of the road by a few inches. It has bicycle signs on it.

Surely this isn't the greenway that the council got money for. Its certainly not whats on the map posted by Dudda.

The whole point of the route shown in Duddas map was so that it would pass through country side, using the lake and forest as a focal point. It also meant it was safe for children. What has been done is not much better than cycling on the road, not safe for young kids, and in no way a pleasure to use due to the speeding traffic been a few inches from your bike.

Hopefully im wrong and the route in Duddas map is still going ahead ??

Irish Warri0r

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Is this the Lough Lannagh - Rehins wood greenway that you ran ?

I went to Rehins wood today, it appears that the council have made a wide footpath on the Newport road the whole way from the town to the woods. They have just used the existing hard shoulder of the road and raised it above the level of the road by a few inches. It has bicycle signs on it.

Surely this isn't the greenway that the council got money for. Its certainly not whats on the map posted by Dudda.

The whole point of the route shown in Duddas map was so that it would pass through country side, using the lake and forest as a focal point. It also meant it was safe for children. What has been done is not much better than cycling on the road, not safe for young kids, and in no way a pleasure to use due to the speeding traffic been a few inches from your bike.

Hopefully im wrong and the route in Duddas map is still going ahead ??

Yea I was talking about the Newport road part,the part in town still has a bit of work left to do and is closed to public as far as I can tell.

Irish Warri0r

Irish Warri0r wrote: »

Yea I was talking about the Newport road part,the part in town still has a bit of work left to do and is closed to public as far as I can tell.

The Newport road was not supposed to be the Greenway, thats a glorified hard shoulder. It was supposed to be down by the lake, through countryside and then into the woods.

It appears the easier pointless option has been chosen instead of the planned route as per Duddas map. Its a pity as it would of been a very attractive route and brought a lot of visitors to the town.

Castlebar12

its going down the river anyways, by maesh house, coming beside elverys, where that small building will be knocked, into the town park and out to turlough house

Westernyelp

Deleted User wrote: »

The Newport road was not supposed to be the Greenway, thats a glorified hard shoulder. It was supposed to be down by the lake, through countryside and then into the woods.

It appears the easier pointless option has been chosen instead of the planned route as per Duddas map. Its a pity as it would of been a very attractive route and brought a lot of visitors to the town.

land owners put paid to the original plan I understand. the usual BS. Shame

Westernyelp

Westernyelp wrote: »

land owners put paid to the original plan I understand. the usual BS. Shame

Why did the council not just CPO it ? It was nearly all lake-shore, it would of been worthless to a farmer.

Whats has been done now is a complete waste of money, very few will use it. Its too dangerous for children.

Dudda

Why did the farmers along the Achill to Westport co-operate and not receive compensation (as mentioned in previous posts) but the farmers around Castlebar not co-operate?

Westernyelp

Dudda wrote: »

Why did the farmers along the Achill to Westport co-operate and not receive compensation (as mentioned in previous posts) but the farmers around Castlebar not co-operate?

There was a good bit of agro from a couple of landowners on the Westport one. even had to be closed for a short while as far as I remember. regarding the CPO in Castlebar, maybe it would have been too expensive, who knows. The stretch between Castlebar and Turlough has been pushed on to the N5 in a couple of spots by the same issues, But the NRA should sort that when the CPO's for the new road come through.

irishgeo

Dudda wrote: »

Why did the farmers along the Achill to Westport co-operate and not receive compensation (as mentioned in previous posts) but the farmers around Castlebar not co-operate?

probably hoping the council will give in , look at mess the council made of the newport rd in the first place.

monument

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Whats has been done now is a complete waste of money, very few will use it. Its too dangerous for children.

Why is that? What's wrong with it?

monument

monument wrote: »

Why is that? What's wrong with it?

Its basically the hard shoulder for the main Newport road. Its too dangerous for any young children. If they go off by a few feet its straight into oncoming traffic. The noise will also put recreational cyclists off.

The whole purpose of the greenway was supposed to be for off road, quiet, safe cycling. The original route was ideal and would of been excellent for tourism.

The council were as well to have kept the hard shoulder the way it was and use the money for something else as any adults that wanted to cycle out the Newport road would of done so anyway.

That money would off extended the path around Lough Lannagh and people would of actually used it.

Kristopherus

monument wrote: »

Why is that? What's wrong with it?

They made it just wide enough to accomodate a van and caravan. Free parking for that so-called ethnic group who will thrash the place, come August.:mad:

irishgeo

Kristopherus wrote: »

They made it just wide enough to accomodate a van and caravan. Frre parking for that so-called ethnic group who will thrash the place, come August.:mad:

I imagine some black poles will be installed.

Kristopherus

irishgeo wrote: »

I imagine some black poles will be installed.

Typical. A lovely coat of tar on that "walkway". To install those poles means a mini-digger to dig holes on it:eek:.

12 element

Westernyelp wrote: »

There was a good bit of agro from a couple of landowners on the Westport one. even had to be closed for a short while as far as I remember. regarding the CPO in Castlebar, maybe it would have been too expensive, who knows. The stretch between Castlebar and Turlough has been pushed on to the N5 in a couple of spots by the same issues, But the NRA should sort that when the CPO's for the new road come through.

Don't think that is true. The Castlebar to Turlough greenway only comes onto the N5 for one short section and I think that's more to do with the fact the River was rerouted to accommodate the road and there's not any room to fit a path between the road and the river.

yop

12 element wrote: »

Don't think that is true. The Castlebar to Turlough greenway only comes onto the N5 for one short section and I think that's more to do with the fact the River was rerouted to accommodate the road and there's not any room to fit a path between the road and the river.

Was indeed only one spot when I was on it the other day, its a lovely job, great to see it done.

Dudda

yop wrote: »

Was indeed only one spot when I was on it the other day, its a lovely job, great to see it done.

Has it officially opened?

yop

Dudda wrote: »

Has it officially opened?

Not sure tbh honest, I did a "Recon" on it

12 element

Not yet, thiink they were laying tarmac yesterday so can't be too far off. I was told it would be open for Summer anyway.

12 element

Castlebar12 wrote: »

its going down the river anyways, by maesh house, coming beside elverys, where that small building will be knocked, into the town park and out to turlough house

Which building will be knocked? I see there is a new footbridge down at the side of Dunnes Stores across to marsh house.

12 element

https://www.facebook.com/runmayorun/photos/a.293395274131728.1073741828.293352344136021/394411897363398/?type=1&theater

Castlebar12

12 element wrote: »

Which building will be knocked? I see there is a new footbridge down at the side of Dunnes Stores across to marsh house.

The small one right beside elverys, it used to be a book shop

12 element

Castlebar12 wrote: »

The small one right beside elverys, it used to be a book shop

Where did you hear that? Won't that mean cyclist can only use the greenway in one direction. Also this is a fairly large building on the main St of the town it's hard to see them knocking it down.

https://www.google.ie/maps/@53.857577,-9.297454,3a,89.9y,154.41h,86.97t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1stFMZEPJ6tNTP40k4qtaCMA!2e0

irishgeo

12 element wrote: »

Where did you hear that? Won't that mean cyclist can only use the greenway in one direction. Also this is a fairly large building on the main St of the town it's hard to see them knocking it down.

https://www.google.ie/maps/@53.857577,-9.297454,3a,89.9y,154.41h,86.97t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1stFMZEPJ6tNTP40k4qtaCMA!2e0

the cyclist can dismount and wheel his bicycle against the flow of traffic on a one way street.

12 element

irishgeo wrote: »

the cyclist can dismount and wheel his bicycle against the flow of traffic on a one way street.

Of course. Seems a bit crazy to knock a building and end up with a half assed solution. No need to knock anything in that case can't cyclists wheel their bikes down the existing alleyway?

Xenji

Does anyone know why they have started pulling the Newport Road section up, it has not even been a year since it was opened.

yop

Xenji wrote: »

Does anyone know why they have started pulling the Newport Road section up, it has not even been a year since it was opened.

wow, where is that? Bad time of year to be dicking around with it!

irishgeo

Xenji wrote: »

Does anyone know why they have started pulling the Newport Road section up, it has not even been a year since it was opened.

if its the section i am thinking of, they are building a wall beside it.

12 element

irishgeo wrote: »

if its the section i am thinking of, they are building a wall beside it.

https://www.facebook.com/keywestbar/photos/a.10151405910416961.1073741825.150692941960/10152836426706961/?type=1&pnref=story

When are they going to start sacking these incompetent idiots in the council ?.

Vandy West

Would guess that this was always part of the plan. Drive by there most days and that kerb was done with a kerb laying machine and as they were probably trying to get agreement to take out the large trees that were removed to build the retaining wall, it was probably as cheap/easy to lay the path and kerb and then relay once wall was built, rather than delay the job to get the agreement of one landowner.

Xenji

Vandy West wrote: »

Would guess that this was always part of the plan. Drive by there most days and that kerb was done with a kerb laying machine and as they were probably trying to get agreement to take out the large trees that were removed to build the retaining wall, it was probably as cheap/easy to lay the path and kerb and then relay once wall was built, rather than delay the job to get the agreement of one landowner.

An engineer with the council wanted to add a new wall around his property ( not the 8tf wall fiasco on the Turlough greenway ) this required the uplifting of just under 1km of the greenway, easy to see how he got planning permission.

12 element

Xenji wrote: »

( not the 8tf wall fiasco on the Turlough greenway )

Any more info on this?

Xenji

12 element wrote: »

Any more info on this?

Some land owner wants the council to build an 8ft wall around his property for privacy reasons as its adjacent to the greenway.

happyoutscan

Xenji wrote: »

Some land owner wants the council to build an 8ft wall around his property for privacy reasons as its adjacent to the greenway.

If the Greenway isn't on his land then I don't think there's much that can be done. However if he has contributed to the project I hope he can be facilitated in some way. I'm guessing that an 8 foot wall would attract more attention to his property?

nuac

Xenji wrote: »

Some land owner wants the council to build an 8ft wall around his property for privacy reasons as its adjacent to the greenway.

On the Westport - Achill Greenway some works were done to protect privacy, but I cannot recall any eight foot walls.
\

Those along the W-A line realised the tourism potential, and the need to encourage visitors. Same incentive might not apply Castlebar-Turlough

irishgeo

nuac wrote: »

On the Westport - Achill Greenway some works were done to protect privacy, but I cannot recall any eight foot walls.
\

Those along the W-A line realised the tourism potential, and the need to encourage visitors. Same incentive might not apply Castlebar-Turlough

someone people did, others decided not to let it through their land. Making it stop short of the train station and having people cycle on a busy road whcih is not wide enough to achill sound.

I know of someone who got a brand new shed out of for the tiny strip of land they gave over.

vicwatson

If staying in Westport and wanna cycle say Achill to Newport and hire bikes, how to do that?

Obviosuly we will need transport to Achill but could drive to Newport and get transpirt from there to Achill with bike hire? Whos the best that can do this for us in Newport?