The project team with the Galway-to-Athlone cycleway will not decide on a route for the greenway until consultation with landowners is complete.

Over 11,000 submissions were made to the public consultation on the five route options for the greenway.

Cian McGuinness, project manager with RPS Consulting Engineers which will design the greenway, told the Irish Farmers Journal that the project team is committed to intensifying engagement with landowners and farmers along the route options over the coming months.

“Public health restrictions meant that not everyone was able to participate in the consultation as they might have liked, and we were unable to meet with farmers personally.

“Once public health guidelines permit, our project liaison officers will be ‘on the ground’ and available to meet people face to face or in groups. In particular, our project liaison officers will start to visit farmers and landowners in the consultation areas to explore possible route options there, and to talk through any issues or concerns,” he said.

The objective is to find out how a route may be developed with the consent of the landowner, which is likely to be around the boundary of a land holding, McGuinness said.

Reassurance

“We would like to reassure landowners that we will not proceed to the next stage of the project, identification of a preferred corridor, until this consultation has been done.

“We are in the process of writing to landowners within the consultation areas, advising them of progress on the project and the next steps, and preparing a short newsletter,” he said.