A 1.8km greenway between Baldoyle and Portmarnock was approved by An Bord Pleanála today.
The pedestrian and cycle paths will run adjacent to the Coast Road (R106) from Red Arches Road to just south of the Coast Road /Station Road roundabout.
It will mainly included three-metre wide cycletrack and two-metre wide footpath separated by a 2.4-metre wide grass verge, with short sections of shared used paths at, before at after a bridge and road crossings.
Cllr David Healy (Greens) said: “Given the anticipated level of use, I’m very glad that the voices of cyclists, walkers and local people urging a segregated design were listened to in the design process.”
“This is an important part of a wider network. The use of segregated routes to link the suburban towns in the area is an approach I hope will be followed. This is also an amenity route similar to the coastal promenade from Sutton to Sandycove and gives access to the new parkland between Baldoyle and Portmarnock,” he said.
Cllr Healy said he particularly welcomed the scaling down of the lighting proposed for the route, which he had called for in his submission. He said: “It is very positive to see An Bord Pleanála take proper account of the impact on bats and on the visual character of the Green Belt by requiring that the lighting be by bollards rather than the 6m poles originally proposed.”
He said Fingal County Council is committed to a coastal greenway running from Kilbarrack to north of Balbriggan, with a link to Howth along Burrow Road and Claremont Beach.
Cllr Healy said: “The Broadmeadow section should be applied for within the next two months. There is a significant suppressed demand for cycling and walking along the coast. The levels of waking between Portmarnock and Malahide indicate what can be expected on this new section. The suppressed demand for cycling is probably similar to that on the northern side of the S2S, which is heavily used for access to school, workplaces etc, as well as as an amenity route itself.”
He added: “The next section intended to be built, across Broadmeadow Estuary, will provide a walking and cycling link where only rail exists at the moment. The other elements of the Sutton to Malahide stretch are currently the subject of design work which will go to consultation later in the year.”
Fingal Greenways
The following is an update outlining the greenway schemes which are currently being progressed by Fingal County Council:
1. Royal Canal Greenway.
Engineering design, environmental assessment and route option development is currently underway for the Royal Canal Greenway, a proposed walking and cycling route that will run for some 8km between the 12th lock, Castleknock and the Fingal/Kildare county boundary. The proposed scheme will form part of the national Dublin-Galway greenway to the west and will link into existing and proposed greenway schemes in Dublin City and Kildare. A number of surveys are currently underway over the summer along the proposed route.
2. Baldoyle – Portmarnock Greenway
The Baldoyle and Portmarnock Pedestrian and Cyclist scheme was submitted to An Bord Pleanala on the 7th of February. The deadline of submissions to ABP was the 23rd March. Decisions by the Bord can take a number of months. The Council intends to issue tender documentation for the works if and when planning approval is granted. [this was approved today]
3. Sutton – Malahide Greenway
Non-statutory public consultation took place for a number of routes late in 2017. Following the submissions received, a preferred route corridor is being progressed to preliminary design at present. Local consultation is planned for later this year as there are a number of private properties and car parking areas likely to be affected.
4. Broadmeadow Way
The final documents are being prepared for this project with a submission date to An Bord Pleanala in the next two months. A decision on planning is likely to take a minimum of six months, following which there will be further clarity on the future steps for implementing this scheme.
5. Donabate to Meath Border Greenway.
The initial procurement of an engineering consultant to prepare the planning and design is currently underway. This scheme will form part of the Fingal Coastal Way. Depending on the emerging route options, the scheme may proceed as either one large project or a number of smaller phases, e.g. Donabate-Skerries, Skerries-Balbriggan, etc.
6. Kinsealy Greenways Feasibility Study
A draft report has been prepared for this study and is currently with the consultant for finalisation following comments from FCC. It is planned to finalise the report over the coming weeks.
7. Lusk-Rush Feasibility Study
A procurement has recently taken place to appoint an engineering consultant to undertake a feasibility study in relation to the provision of cycle linkages between Rush and Lusk.
Thats great news. Hope it’s built soon. Its a beautiful but very dangerous cycle at present. I know of several cyclists who have been hit by cars to date. Extremely dangerous at night as it is pitch black for most of it (Open fields & no public lighting). The odd public light whilst it is in planning & building stage would be even more welcome.