Funding announced for Wicklow Greenway

The Greystones to Wicklow Greenway has received Stage 1 funding of €350,000 from Transport Infrastructure Ireland.

The coastal route is approximately 20km in length extending between the southern end of the Bray to Greystones cliff walk at Greystones harbour to the Murrough Car Park in Wicklow Town.

Wicklow County Council had funded an initial feasibility study which suggests that it is potentially feasible to develop a coastal route through the designated conservation area of the Murrough Wetlands Special Area of Conservation and the Special Protection Area if the route is developed so as to ensure that there is no disturbance to birds species, habitats, and features of interest, any significant impacts will have to be mitigated for.

Irish Rail has commissioned a Coastal Protection Study of the area along the railway line, between Merrion Gates and the County boundary  with Wexford. The preferred route that has been recommended is neutral of any potential Coastal Protection Study recommendation.

In welcoming the funding announcement, Cllr Shay Cullen, Cathaoirleach of Wicklow Council, thanked the members of the Council and Oireachtas members for their support; Minister Harris  and his team for initiating the Taskforce and getting the various agencies around the table, Minister Donnelly and Deputy Matthews for supporting the initiative and the Chief Executive and his team for their commitment to it.

Chief Executive,  Frank Curran, welcomed the announcement saying Wicklow County Council is very conscious of the sensitivity of the environment and the unique biodiversity of the area and aims to ensure that a key element of the Coastal Route will be recognition, protection and appreciation of this.

Wicklow County Council is expected to go to tender in the New Year to procure consultants to progress the project.