Accident on greenway prompts emergency access discussion

Photo: A section of the Old Rail Trail Greenway between Athlone and Moate.

A cyclist who was seriously injured on the Old Rail Trail Greenway in May had to be wheeled on a gurney to a waiting ambulance after the emergency services couldn't gain access that part of the trail with their vehicle.

Cllr Tom Farrell (FG), who highlighted the case in a motion at the latest Athlone Moate Municipal District meeting, said luckily, the incident occurred only around 300 metres from an entrance

He wondered, however, what would happen if there was an accident halfway between Athlone and Moate.

He called on the council to improve protocols to gain access to the greenway in the event of an emergency occurring along the route, used by walkers and cyclists on a daily basis.

It's important emergency services are briefed in terms of the gates and access agreed Fianna Fáil's Frankie Keena, who added that this was a serious accident where a person fell off a bicycle around 300 metres past the Glynwood access point on the Moate side in a very rural area.

There is no vehicular access at that point of the greenway as it was only put in after the amenity was up and running as a local link to come on and off the greenway and use a small car park nearby, Cllr Keena said afterwards.

He believes there should be a marker system, similar to the motorways, along the Old Rail Trail so that walkers or cyclists can pinpoint their location quickly in the event of an accident so emergency services can get to them.

There are emergency access points at the White Gates, Garrycastle, Magheramore, and Moate.

In a written reply, the council said that official access points to the greenway have been notified to all emergency services and they have been issued with access codes and locations of the designated access points.

Supporting the motion, Cllr John Dolan asked whether bollards that go and up and down could be put in some areas where there are rocks, put in for good reasons, blocking vehicles getting in.

Cllr Vinny McCormack said it was a worthwhile motion and it should be reviewed yearly so everyone is clear about access and what's needed.

District engineer, Pat Nally, explained that there is an access code for emergency access points so no key is needed.

That has been supplied to all emergency services, and if there is a fault then it may lie in the control room where calls are taken and that it should be up on a wall there.

Mr Nally told members he will send the code, a universal one, to open the gates/access points all along the greenway to the emergency services again as a reminder.

He confirmed that the Tully or Glynwood access was only built for locals and does not provide vehicular access to the greenway.

Magheramore or Garrycastle would be the nearest vehicle access points to where the accident happened.

Cllr Liam McDaniel reminded the executive that whatever is done in Athlone or Moate in terms of codes needs to be done for the whole county because an accident could just as easily happen along the amenity at Castletown or Mullingar.

Thankfully, the person who was injured has since made a good recovery, Cllr Farrell said, ending the discussion by thanking the emergency services on the behalf of the cyclist.

He also asked that the council highlight all of emergency access points from here on in and ensure they are all clearly marked.