Déja vu at ‘unfair’ Active Travel fund distribution for Kilkenny councillors

The announcement of Active Travel funding for the county has sparked a sense of déja vu for councillors in the Callan Thomastown municipal area.

Describing the distribution as ‘unfair’, councillors said it was the same last year.

Welcoming the funding that had been received for Graignamanagh and Callan, Cllr Deirdre Cullen said the district is not, however, getting a fair share of overall funding.

“For the size of the Callan Thomastown municipal district, to say just two areas were considered in a 12 month cycle is bizarre and I don’t think it’s a fair distribution of funds.”

Cllr Patrick O’Neill said Active Travel “was a great scheme four or five years ago, every village got a chance. But I feel the rug has been pulled from under us and it’s going to the towns. It’s great for Callan and Graignamanagh but people are walking and cycling in other towns and villages as well.”

Cllr O’Neill said he was disappointed with the Department view that seems to be ‘just throwing money at established projects’.
“90% of our area hasn’t a hope of getting any of it,” he said.

Area Engineer, Declan Murphy, said the County Council has no control over Active Travel funding, allocations are approved by the National Transport Authority and they have said footpaths will not be funded as they are not proper links.
“That’s some attitude to have,” Cllr O’Neill commented.

Mr Murphy went on to say that since the introduction of Active Travel schemes, footpaths are also no longer funded under the Clár or Town and Village Renewal programmes.

Cllr Matt Doran said Clár funding was a “massive loss” as it had been a major source of funding for many areas in the county.