More than 500 people attend Athlone-Galway cycleway consultations

The closing date for the first phase of public consultation on the proposed Galway to Athlone cycleway is Monday next, September 7.

Five public consultation events on the project were held last month, in Athlone, Ballinasloe, Athenry, Loughrea and Oranmore, with over 500 people attending in total.

Project coordinator, Michael Kelly, said the need for "a more collaborative approach with landowners" was one of the themes that had emerged from the consultation days.

"It was encouraging to see the positive public reaction to the new Galway to Athlone cycleway project at the recent information events," commented Mr Kelly.

"We were delighted that more than 500 people were able to attend. Valuable local information was shared with the project team. This will help in identifying potential route corridors at the next stage.

"A strong theme during the consultation was that the potential impact of the project on farming needs to be addressed and that a more collaborative approach with landowners is needed.

"We are committed to doing this and fully understand that this is needed to make the project a success. I encourage everyone to engage with the project team to inform the project design."

The team behind the project said the Galway to Athlone cycleway plan to deliver "a quality and memorable visitor experience with impactful scenery and points of interest along the way."

The amenity is designed to support local businesses and stimulate new enterprises and jobs. It will complete the 270km car-free corridor between Galway and Dublin, creating the opportunity for week-long cycling holidays.

The project is being delivered by the Westmeath, Galway and Roscommon local authorities.

Design consultants, RPS, from Galway, were appointed earlier this year and were given a blank canvas to define a project study area, and thereafter to identify potential route corridors, and then a preferred corridor and route for the new cycleway, with public consultation at all stages.

There will be four periods of public consultation in total, before a planning application is made in 2023.

All of the materials shown at the recent consultation days are also available in the online Virtual Consultation Room at www.galwaytoathlonecycleway.com.

A dedicated Project Office opened in Ballinasloe from August 24, and people can meet the project team, by appointment, by contacting (091) 509267 or info@galwaytoathlonecycleway.com.

The project team expects to publish a number of potential corridor options for the Galway to Athlone cycleway later this year.