Council update on £1m greenway to link Galgorm and Cullybackey

A report presented to a meeting of the council’s Environment and Economy Committee at a meeting on Monday evening said that design consultants were appointed in June.

The report indicated that phase one of the project would provide a link path along the River Maine between the two villages.

The design consultants are currently “in technical discussions with officials from DfI (Department for Infrastructure) Roads and DfI Rivers regarding route options and budget costs” and when a preferred option is confirmed, a planning application will be submitted to the council’s planning department.

The report notes that an economic appraisal has been completed for the project but approval is pending confirmation of the “final approved route and updated cost estimates”.

The cost of completing the walking and cycling path between Galgorm village and Cullybackey is expected to be in the region of £1m.

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Funding for the Galgorm to Cullybackey greenway would be provided by the Department for Communities (DfC), DfI and DAERA (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs) as part of the Covid Recovery Small Settlements Regeneration Programme. An increased allocation of £304k by the DfC has brought the total for Mid and East Antrim to £2.4m. The council is contributing £236,667.

A number of other projects in Mid and East Antrim are also funded through the programme. These include a multi-use sports hub in Portglenone and upgraded multi-use games area (MUGA) in Carnlough, a “kick-about” area for Glynn outside Larne; refurbishment of play parks in Ahoghill and Martinstown and a new toilet block in Glenarm which have been completed.

As part of a village environmental programme, Carnlough Harbour lighting was upgraded to include “traditional style lantern light heads”. A project for one hundred metres of festoon lighting for the harbour is being progressed with the aim that it will be installed in time for Christmas.

Pavement cafe furniture has been purchased and delivered to a number of businesses across Mid and East Antrim’s “small settlements”.

Michelle Weir, Local Democracy Reporter