The Wee GreenwayHelping Derry and Inishowen to develop its potential

© Ronan Gallagher & Blaise Harvey 2014

ContentsWhat is happening around Ireland?

Strategies north and south

Proposed route

The benefits

Our challenges

Who are Inishowen’s stakeholders?

Key points to take away today

Going forward

What is happening around Ireland? Athlone to Mullingar: 40km section of Dublin-Galway greenway (€40m)

Kilmeaden to Bilberry: section of Dungarvan-Waterford greenway (€1.1m)

Cahersiveen to Reenard Point: 5.75km section of greenway (€450,000)

Clonmel to Carrick-on-Suir: 5.75km upgrading river Suir towpath (€1.9m)

Ennis to Ballymacquiggan: 5km of route linking Ennis to Lahinch (€400,000)

Monasteries of the Moy: connecting Ballina to Killala (€250,000)

Tralee to Fenit: phase one - 0.5km - beginning in Tralee (€345,000)

Leixlip to Oughterard via Celbridge: 25kms ‘Arthur’s Way’ (€311,000)

Patrickswell to Limerick city: 4.14kms (€420,000)

Boyle to Lough Key: link to the forest park (€400,000)

Coolnahay harbour to Ballynacarrigy: 14.4kms [part of Royal Canal towpath(€900,000)]

Strategies north and south EU Horizon 2020’s Better Society: ‘smart, green & integrated transport’

Health benefits, Leisure-cycle related infrastructure, Cycle events

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

€200m national infrastructure package announced May 2014

Smarter travel: a sustainable transport future 2009-2020

Reduce car commuting from approx. 65% to 45%

Promote walking, cycling and public transport as travel modes for work

Reduce greenhouse gas emissions as part of Ireland’s EU obligations

National countryside recreation strategy

‘Development of infrastructure for countryside recreation’

National cycle policy framework

Government committed to develop cycling as a desirable mode of transport

Good for health, the economy and the environment

2020 vision: ‘Cities, towns, villages and rural areas will be bicycle friendly’

Strategy for the development of Irish Cycle Tourism

Sustrans UK in conjunction with Fáilte Ireland

Proposed route

97kms with astandard widthof 4 metres(reduced to 3mat pinchpoints)

Derry centre, Collon, Bridgend, Inch, Fahan, Buncrana, Dumfries, Clonmany, Ballyliffin,Carndonagh, Gleneely, Moville, Redcastle, Quigley’s Point, Muff and Culmore.

The benefits The Money

Overseas activity tourism in Ireland €773 million (2012)

Activity tourists spend 45% more than the ‘average’ foreign visitor

Western Greenway: 180,000 users in 2012 spending €62.00pp per day

Local business activity Mayo Greenway directly helped establish six new businesses

Potential to resuscitate Dumfries, Gleneely, Moville, Muff

Commuting For school, work and general leisure

Can change social habits between all the connected urban/rural areas

Tourism Potential to attract local, regional, national and international tourists

Environmental and ecological Connecting scenic with historic; complementary planting/fauna to enhance

local areas

International reputation The Wee Greenway has potential to be a route of international renown

The challenges Construction cost

Commonage and land access (in light of new GLAS scheme)

A2 Derry to Bridgend road enhancement scheme

Timing

Availability of local, national and international funding

Competition from around the country

Appointing a dedicated ‘greenway’ officer jointly funded by Donegal CountyCouncil and Derry City Council

Draft costs – The Wee Greenway (based on 97-km route)

Planning / Resurfacing Works €45,000 per km per m width 17,460,000€

Landscaping Works €25,000 per km per m width 9,700,000€

Public Lighting (urban areas only?) €130,000 per km 2,600,000€

Ducts €55,000 per km 5,335,000€

Boardwalk €1,200 per sqm ?

Bridges €1,000 – €3,500 per sqm ?

Provisional cost 35,095,000€

The stakeholders The people who live and earn their livelihoods in Derry and Donegal

Donegal County Council and Derry City Council

Local landowners (including Swilly Group)

Fáilte Ireland

Government departments & sponsored organisations

The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Department of Rural affairs

Northern Ireland Tourism Board

Department of Economic Development

Department of the Environment

Northern Ireland Roads Service

Heritage Council

Funding bodies, such as INTERREG, LEADER, PEACE and regional development funds

Sustrans

EU Greenway Association

Adventure Travel Trade Association

Going forward Schedule a meeting with councillors in Derry, April 2015

Incorporate ‘The Wee Greenway Initiative’ as a formal organisation

Create a realistic timescale to bring project to fruition

Schedule meetings with all stakeholders

Secure landowner permission (to eliminate compulsory purchase orders)

Secure funding for a feasibility study

Key points to take away today Derry and its hinterland has a population of 235,000 people (Mayo has

130,000)

‘Visit Derry’ shows a 14% growth in hotel room sales since 2012 - equatingto 7% year-on-year growth since 2009

Average daily spend on Great Western Greenway: €62.00 per person

2012: Great Western Greenway contributed €6.2m to local economy

New businesses means more employment, greater cash flow in localeconomy and additional income to Donegal County Council from rates

Buncrana & Environments Development Plan, 2014-2020

‘Walking and cycling are the key components to movement andaccessibility in towns and rural area’ (page 34)

Inishowen is an untapped destination for tourism in general and activitytourism specifically

Councils in Cork, Kerry, Mayo and Sligo each employ a dedicated officerwhose remit includes developing cycling and walking trails

© Ronan Gallagher & Blaise Harvey 2014

Thank you …

Contact details

Ronan Gallagher

Methodist Manse, Bath Terrace, Moville – ronangallagher@gmail.com; 93 8 5375

Blaise Harvey

Cycle Inishowen, Church Street, Carndonagh – superblaise@hotmail.com; 93 7 4856

Find us at www.facebook.com/InishowenGreenway or Twitter @GreenwayPlease.