Council to discuss Newtownabbey greenway proposals

The walkway is one of a number of suggested new walking and cycling routes to be discussed at a meeting of the council’s Operations Committee on Monday evening.

A possible link from Hightown Road through to the O’Neill Road/Valley Park to Gideon’s Green in Newtownabbey has also been highlighted.

Meanwhile, a meeting has been arranged with the Department for Infrastructure to discuss the potential for a path from the western end of O’Neill Road to Gideon’s Green to provide a “continuous route”.

The Department has been informed about interest in the development of new walking and cycle routes in the borough as well as the proposed new Doagh to Larne “greenway” for walkers and cyclists.

It is one of eight schemes across four local government authority areas in Northern Ireland which have been earmarked for development.

In August 2017, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council was awarded £25,000 to develop a detailed design for its greenway proposal.

The proposed Doagh to Larne greenway is expected to cost in the region of £3.9m.

The 26-kilometre corridor would take in Ballyclare, Ballynure and Millbrook providing a safe pathway for cycling and walking.

It would follow the former railway links between Belfast and Ballyclare and the old Ballymena and Larne railway linking into the former railhead at Doagh.

A public consultation on feasibility took place last January.

A spokesperson for Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council said: “Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council recognises the impact of greenways for connectivity, sustainability and health for our local communities, and there has been significant development within our borough in recent years including the Newtownabbey Way, parts of the Lough Neagh Cycleway, and the Antrim Town Loop.

“On the Doagh to Larne scheme, a feasibility study was carried out and in July 2018, following a grant from the Department for Infrastructure, both Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council and Mid and East Antrim Borough Council jointly progressed the project to technical design stage.

“Initial consultation was carried out on those proposals and they were positively received by local landowners.”

In 2018 it was announced the project was to receive £25,000 from the Department for Infrastructure and the Public Health Agency.

For more on this, read here

Michelle Weir, Local Democracy Reporter

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