Major Cycling Plan For Skerries
Monday, 25 January 2010 13:17 The County Council appears to have won an award for a pilot project for the development of a cycling network in Skerries town. At a meeting of the Transportation Strategic Policy Committee last week, the County Council revealed that it was close to completing negotiations with the Department of Transport for funding under the Smarter Travel Projects Fund. The fund targets cycling development throughout the country. The award is approximately three quarters of a million euro and the Council has agreement in principle from the Department of Transport for this funding, subject to signing contracts and fulfilling certain legalities. This development will facilitate access by bicycle to schools, shops, the Townpark and the train station. This report was completed with the co-operation of the Skerries Cycling Initiative. A second element of the council’s plan envisages a pro-cycling and pro-walking upgrade of the R127 Skerries-Balbriggan road, via Barnageeragh. The return route will be via Balrothery, Ardgillan, Ardla, Milverton and back to Skerries via Togher Hill. It is hoped that this route will encourage commuters between Balbriggan and Skerries to switch to what, many believe to be, the most sustainable transport mode in existence, namely the bicycle. Welcoming this major development for cycling in Skerries, Ray Ryan, Chairperson of Skerries Cycling Initiative, said, “We wish to congratulate the Local Authority for the vision and determination in winning this award for the Skerries area. This is a great day for Skerries. He also paid tribute to Minister Noel Dempsey and said that the real breakthrough came last year with the publication of the ‘National Cycling Policy Framework’ by the Department of Transport. This document set the tone for the cycling revolution”, he said. Local TD and Junior Minister, Trevor Sargent, a cycling enthusiast, welcomed the award when he said, “I especially wish to thank the Skerries Cycling Initiative and the County Council for running with this plan to develop a local cycling network on behalf of residents and visitors to both Skerries and Balbriggan. Skerries is already the cycling capital of the area, which is the potential cycling capital of Ireland. So the message is cycle further and enjoy a healthier and longer life”, he said. |
