Tánaiste Leo Varadkar is objecting to the construction of a missing piece of the Dublin to Galway greenway along the Royal Canal. He is opposed to a section of the route in its current form and, like some residents in the area, he is supporting a change of route.
The new 8km stretch of greenway, which is proposed for Mr Varadkar’s Dublin West constituency, has been in the planning for years.
However, approximately 1km of the route has meet with significant opposition from local residents on the northern side of the canal. Some residents there do not want the greenway to run alongside their back gardens.
They want the 1km section of greenway between Coolmine and Castleknock to be moved to the south side of the canal, which would mean it would be moved away from running along the bottom of their back gardens.
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However, that plan to take that 1km section away from the houses would require 4km of the greenway switching to the south side of the canal. An additional bridge would also be required.
The Business Post has reported Fingal County Council has devised a plan, which includes those significant changes, at a cost of €24 million for the full 8km section of the greenway.
The residents have been objecting to the plan for about two years on the basis the greenway would pass too close to their back gardens and now Mr Varadkar (FG) is supporting the group of constituents in their opposition.
Mr Varadkar has taken part in triathlons down the years
and has been seen cycling on many occasions. He has also previously made many
public statements in support of greenways.
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His opposition to the stretch of proposed greenway along the Royal Canal has been met with criticism from both other politicians and cycling campaigners.
However, he has said that as a local representative and resident he is echoing the objections of other residents in the area. And a group of residents has long been opposed to the stretch of greenway in its current form.
The story was broken by political journalist Michael Brennan on businesspost.ie. He has also reported that Minister for State Jack Chambers (FF), who also represents Dublin West, is also opposing the 1km section of greenway construction in its current format.
Minister for State Roderic
O’Gorman TD (Greens), another local representative, is in favour of pressing
ahead with the plan as is currently proposed. Meanwhile, Paul Donnelly of Sinn
Fein, who is the other TD for the area, is yet to express his view one way or
the other.
Cllr
Oisín O'Connor (Greens), a well known advocate for cycling and sustainable
transport generally, said he was “not surprising” that Mr Varadkar was opposing
the route.
Mr O’Connor
said the Tánaiste was “pandering to NIMBYs rather than providing
real leadership”.
Dublin Galway Way, a group that campaigns for the
greenway, said it was “disappointing” to see Mr Varadkar’s opposition.
“Dublin 15 deserves better. Ground investigation has
ruled out the south bank. This approach effectively means no greenway,” it
said.
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