COUNCILLORS CHANGE THEIR TACK ON ATTITUDE TO BARROW TRACK ‘BLUEWAY’
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 01, 2015
CONTROVERSIAL plans by Waterways Ireland to develop the River Barrow were once again before Carlow County Council, with yet another group lodging strenuous objections.
But despite being the second such delegation to come before the council, there was a distinct softening to Waterways Ireland’s plans among council members. It subsequently emerged that councillors had been approached in recent weeks by business owners and interested parties, and they expressed their support for the plan to replace the river’s towpath with a hard surface suitable as a cycle track.
The deputation from Carlow Barrow Users Group led by Rosalind Murray and Bert Mooney began by outlining the history of the Barrow, its importance in terms of trade and, more recently, tourism. Referring to the towpath, Mr Mooney was adamant that a 1.5m wide towpath was “never going to be wide enough to be a proper trail”. He also warned about the potential for erosion.
Ms Murray pointed out that Waterways Ireland had conducted a poll into its plans for the River Barrow and described the results as “overwhelmingly positive”. However, Ms Murray stated that under a freedom of information request, her group had discovered that 84% of those who responded had declared they were against the plans, with just 15% in favour.
Ms Murray asked why Waterways Ireland was just looking at a plan for a cycling track when the River Barrow had even greater untapped potential. She also suggested that any work on the river should be done from the river itself or its puddle.
Cllr Arthur McDonald remarked that the planned investment of between €5m and €7m was needed on the River Barrow. “We have to ensure this funding comes; we must make sure it does,” he warned.
Ms Murray accepted fully that the Barrow was in need of investment but added that the proposed plan was only looking at putting down a surface.
“We have established that €5m or €6m won’t be enough. Our worry is that this proposal is going against the wealth of history and will just end up doing damage to it,” she stated.
Cllr Michael Doran remarked that currently the track surface was in “an atrocious state”. “I would definitely say there should be resources used to improve on it and I believe we need to promote, maintain and get more money for the track … if not, it will fall into the river.”
Cllr Doran also stated that “we have to support Waterways Ireland and shouldn’t jeopardise funding”.
A notice of motion signed by 11 councillors calling for the Barrow’s towpath to be made a protected structure was subsequently deferred, showing a clear sign of a change of heart among the members.
Cllr Doran warned that such a notice of motion would “unilaterally halt development” and potentially be a “serious catastrophe for businesses and home owners”. He also spoke of “people trying to make the Barrow more elitist and not looking at a more holistic approach”.
Cllr Jennifer Murnane O’Connor remarked that “in the last few days, we have been approached by people telling us what this plan might do for tourism and how that would help jobs … everyone should be working together for the good of Carlow”.
“I’m not here to pick a side, I’m here to represent Carlow,” she said.
Both cllr Brian O’Donoghue and cllr John Cassin remarked that they had “signed the motion in good faith” but that further information had come to light since.
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