Revealed: First steps in project to build pedestrian bridge in Bennettsbridge

A new pedestrian bridge over the River Nore could be on the cards for Bennettsbridge if ambitious plans come to fruition.

The future development would also include an amenity area and parking to allow greater use of the river for leisure pursuits.

The bad news is that the project is a long way from even beginning, as a lot of work still needs to be done before any physical work can take place - including land acquisition, a full design and sourcing funding.

One of the first steps in the exciting project was taken at last week’s Callan Thomastown municipal district meeting. In a presentation from Acting Senior Engineer Frank Stafford, results of a feasibility study and design options report were presented to councillors.
The study was undertaken in partnership with Kilkenny Leader Partnership.

He said the construction of a new bridge would not only address the amenity issues but also the connectivity between both sides of the village.

Options
The study first looked at options for using the existing bridge, including the structural modification of the bridge to allow safe pedestrian and cycle crossing. A protected structure, this option was deemed too complex.

A second option examined was the installation of traffic lights and reducing traffic on the bridge to one lane, to allow for safer pedestrian and bike crossing. This option was ruled out for reasons including that it would cause congestion for traffic.
It was deemed the construction of a new bridge would be the only feasible option.

The study then looked at where this bridge might be situated. Options both upstream and downstream of the existing bridge were considered.

When issues including land that was prone to flooding and the ‘protected view’ of the existing bridge from downstream were taken into consideration a site upstream was deemed most suitable.

Mr Stafford said the site highlighted in the report would be accessed from the main Kilkenny road from an entrance beside the ‘Moth to a Flame’ business and could have space for parking and a set-down area for boats/ canoes as well as facilities including showers and a picnic area.
On the other side of the river a pedestrian crossing could be installed.

Councillors were told that while this process is at a very early stage, preliminary discussions with local landowners were positive.
The general area is a special area of conservation and a flood plain, this combined with the need for part of the works to be carried out in the river and the existing bridge being a protected structure, mean it will also be a challenging project and will need a full natura impact statement (NIS).
Stressing that this is at an early stage, Mr Stafford said it is a roadmap for the project.

Next Steps
The next steps for the project are many - the council must identify funding streams for land acquisition, design and advance planning. The design brief will be complicated by the are being a special protection area (SPA) and a special area of conservation (SAC) as well as the need for a hydrology assessment of the flood plain.

A preliminary ecological assessment report has indicated that an NIS is needed so planning permission, when the time comes, will have to be sought directly from An Bord Pleanala.

Mr Stafford said Kilkenny County Council were delighted that Kilkenny Leader Partnership came on board for the project, and said that following a competitive tendering process Kilgallen consultants were appointed to undertake the study.
The report was warmly welcomed by councillors from the area, especially District Chair Cllr Deirdre Cullen and Cllr Patrick O’Neill.

Huge Challenge
Cllr Cullen said both she and Cllr O’Neill had asked for this a long time ago and were delighted to see the idea progress.
“Yes, it’s a huge challenge but it is something that is needed in Bennettsbridge. Not only for health and safety reasons but to address the complete underutilisation of our river,” Cllr Cullen said.

Currently, clubs that come to Bennettsbridge to canoe on the river are using a tiny slip, she said. It’s a pity not to be using the resources they have, she added.

A pedestrian bridge has been achieved in Castlecomer, Cllr Cullen pointed out, accepting that the success of the project in Bennettsbridge would come down to funding and planning permission.
“It’s very exciting,” she said, but added she would keep her hope and expectations in check for now.

Mr Stafford said construction has taken place on a flood plain in other parts of the county, most notably the boardwalk at Silare Wood in Graignamanagh.
Castlecomer’s pedestrian bridge, he pointed out, was funded by Transport Infrastructure Ireland, as it’s on a national route, but this is not an option for Bennettsbridge.

“This has been talked about for a long, long time,” Cllr Patrick O’Neill said, recalling that the matter was raised in his father’s time in politics but was ruled out because the bridge was a protected site, then money was scarce after the financial crash and the project “never got the priority needed.”
Five years ago, canvassing for the local elections, it was an issue at doors, he added.

Cllr O’Neill said that in the time of his grandfather’s generation there was huge activity around the river, but that has been lost, for many reasons.
He said it would be great to see something there into the future as there is no doubt Bennettsbridge is underutilised.

Cllr O’Neill said health and safety had to be at the forefront with the bridge and they were lucky there had been no serious accidents with pedestrians there, but, he cautions, it could happen in the morning.

‘Something we can achieve’
“This is starting to look like something we can achieve. Fingers crossed all will align and in a few years it will be something the whole county can be proud of,” Cllr O’Neill said.

Mr Stafford was not able to indicate a possible time frame for the project, as that depends on many factors, but he said an indicative cost for the project would be €3.5 to €4 million.
“Money well spent,” Cllr Cullen predicted.

Cllr Matt Doran said they could only be ready to go when the time was right, as they all knew funding criteria can change from year to year. He wished the project well.
Cllr Michael Doyle said it was a pity that department criteria would trump health and safety and a development that is needed.