Derry City & Strabane District Council has said it has lodged a planning application for a 3.7km shared walking and cycling route, part of a cross-border greenway between Derry City and Buncrana in County Donegal.
The council said: “The proposed route, complimentary to the emerging A2 Buncrana Road design, will begin in the grounds of St Columb’s College, Buncrana Road, Derry, and continue along a segregated corridor through Templemore Sports Complex, connecting onwards to Elagh Business Park where a future planning application will be submitted in the Republic to connect the route onwards to Buncrana. The planning application for the Northern Ireland section of the route was received by Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Planning Service on the 26 June and is now in the early stages of consideration.”
Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Brian Tierney, said: “This cross-border infrastructure project is vital for the development of the North West City Region. Subject to planning approval, it will play a significant role in encouraging active travel whilst benefitting the health and wellbeing of everyone who will use it.”
He added: “With construction on-going in Culmore, Lifford and Strabane, the North West Greenway Network is now taking shape and I commend all involved for bringing it to this juncture.”
Rónán Gallagher, communications manager for the cross-border greenway network said: “Route 1 of this INTERREG VA-funded project is the longest section, and we are delighted to have submitted the first of the two planning applications for this significant cross-border infrastructure. The Derry to Buncrana corridor is already very busy with motorised traffic.”
He added: “We hope this new infrastructure will encourage people to choose an eco-friendly form of travel, one of the core objectives of the EU’s INTERREG VA Programme, which will support sustainable transport in Derry, Donegal and Tyrone.”
The council said that the funding for the route has been provided through the EU’s INTERREG VA programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) with match-funding provided by the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland and the Department for Transport, Tourism and Sport in Ireland.
Meanwhile, as part of work on a wider North West Greenway Network, there’s progress on a section of a route in Strabane which the council said will ultimately link to Lifford:
So a quick tea-time report on progress in #Strabane, which will ultimately link to #Lifford. As you can see different sections are at different stages, but we're making progress. Route 2 (Muff) update due next week! Keep pedalling. @donegalcouncil @deptinfra @DttasIrl pic.twitter.com/eBtUaE5stX
— North West Greenway Network (@NWGreenway) July 2, 2020
There’s also been progress on the Route 2 between Muff and Derry:
Route 2, Muff-Derry: while awaiting full planning permission, short sections are being constructed by @deptinfra where the route remains within the highway boundary. Soon @ThornhillDerry pupils will be able to cycle to school from #Culmore. @dcsdcouncil @SEUPB @donegalcouncil pic.twitter.com/6rMVX1LCqg
— North West Greenway Network (@NWGreenway) June 18, 2020