This will be a ‘game changer’ - New greenway route to be chosen for South Kilkenny

A proposed ‘greenway’ for South Kilkenny ‘couldn’t be put in a more picturesque and historic area,’ according to local councillors.

Sustainable economic growth for the area and increased tourism will also be benefits of the proposed leisure route, which is currently in a phase of public consultation.

Now consultants are seeking feedback on the plan from the local community, something that they say is vital to the success of the project.

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The Woodstock to South -East Greenway link route plans were welcomed at the April meeting of Callan Thomastown municipal district councillors, in a presentation that marked the important step forward from a concept and feasibility study to route selection.

Giving an overview of the progress so far, consultants involved in the project said Kilkenny County Council is now in phase two of developing a 16km-20km greenway for cyclists and pedestrians between the existing amenities of Woodstock Estate and the terminus of the South East Greenway in New Ross. It’s part of the overall vision and strategy for Active Travel in the county.

The greenway will not just be a link between other attractions but will be an attraction in its own right.

The first period of public consultation took place early last year and phase two began last November.

Phase two will include identifying proposed route corridor options, followed by public consultation, then an evaluation of the options to identify preferred route options, followed by another period of public consultation.

The route corridor is a broad area, up to several hundred metres in width, within which the greenway can feasibly be developed. The actual greenway will be significantly narrower.

There is significant scope to vary the alignment of the route at this stage. Consultants have identified ten route corridor options.

Phase three of the project is expected to commence at the end of this year or early next year, and that will include route design, environmental evaluation and engagement with landowners.

The design process will see consultants establish the extent of state owned land and land acquisition requirements, while the environmental evaluation will seek to identify and mitigate impacts of the development.

Councillors were told, at the meeting, that phase four of the project is expected to take place between 2027 and 2029 - this will include the statutory planning process.
The final phases will be construction of the greenway, which will depend on planning and funding.

Consultation
Public consultation on the route corridor options (phase two) got underway this week and will continue until April 27, on the project website: woodstocktosegreenway.ie

Documents, maps and feedback forms can be found there too.
An in-person event, as part of the consultation, will be held in Cois Abhainn Inistioge, on Monday, April 13, from 2pm to 7pm.

Ahead of the consultation phase, chairman of the municipal district, Cllr Joe Lyons, said most of the feedback so far has been positive.

Cllr Deirdre Cullen said the proposed greenway has the potential to be a ‘game changer’ for the area in terms of economic growth and tourism.

She said Woodstock is at the heart of the local community and encouraged as many people as possible to engage with the consultation process.

Cllr Michael Doyle described the project as “absolutely vital” for the area, adding that he hopes there will be as much consultation, reassurance and cooperation with landowners as possible.
“It’s exciting times for the area,” Cllr Doyle said.