The North-South Ministerial Council (NSMC) at a meeting
held on 10th June 2015 approved the proposal to facilitate the development of a
greenway along the route/linear corridor of the Ulster Canal from Castle Saunderson,
Co Cavan to Charlemont, Co Armagh and also agreed to Waterways Ireland
undertaking the role of lead partner with the support of the relevant Councils
and other stakeholders.
Waterways Ireland, and our project
partners Armagh City Banbridge Craigavon Borough Council, Cavan
County Council, East Border Region Ltd, Fermanagh and Omagh District
Council, Mid-Ulster District Council and Monaghan County Council propose
to develop a long-distance Greenway in Northern Ireland and the Republic of
Ireland, linking Castle Saunderson to Charlemont along the linear corridor of
the disused Ulster Canal.
Ulster Canal Greenway Strategy:
Waterways Ireland and project partners have
collaborated on producing The Ulster Canal Greenway Strategy which will encourage
sustainable travel and visitor trips to the region; will help preserve the
heritage elements (built, natural and cultural) of the Ulster Canal; will
provide recreational facilities; will help meet national and transboundary
objectives of developing sustainable transport in this area and will provide
greater cross-border connectivity. This Strategy demonstrates how the greenway could become the spine of a robust network
of off-road greenways across this rural border region. In delivering on its remit
in relation to the Ulster Canal, Waterways Ireland and project partners will
continue to explore how capital funding may be accessed, having regard to
the scope and nature of the project and the appropriateness of the funding
programme.
The Ulster Canal Greenway Strategy is available to view here.
Waterways Ireland continues to work with its partners Monaghan County
Council, Armagh City Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council, and East Border
Region Ltd. to develop 22km of greenway between Smithborough, Co. Monaghan and
Middletown, Co. Armagh, funded through the Interreg VA sustainable transport
measure. Public consultation events were held in three locations in
August and September 2019 to gather views on routing options and constraints. An
Integrated Consultant Team, appointed in June 2019, continues to work on route
selection, planning permissions and greenway design.
Previous Updates:
Strategic Environmental Assessment - Scoping
As the competent authority Waterways Ireland are notifying statutory and non-statutory consultees of the scoping of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) for the Ulster Canal Greenway Development Strategy. Waterways Ireland, and their project partners Monaghan County Council, Cavan County Council, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, East Border Region Ltd and the Blackwater Regional Partnership, propose to develop a long-distance Greenway in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, linking Castle Saunderson in County Cavan to Charlemont in County Armagh mainly along the route of the disused Ulster Canal and using sections of disused railway infrastructure.
Submissions or observations in relation to this scoping report, or in relation to the scope and level of detail of the information to be included in the Environmental Report, may be made to us by 26th August 2016. At the following address:
Cormac McCarthy: Waterways Ireland, Dock Road, Drewsborough, Scarriff, County Clare, Ireland.
Email: cormac.mccarthy@waterwaysireland.org
The SEA Scoping Report is available to view here.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any queries or would like to discuss this further.
Strategic Environmental Assessment - Screening
Waterways Ireland and their project partners wish to plan the development of the Ulster Canal Greenway transport corridor in a sustainable and transparent manner. Waterways Ireland wish to ensure that the strategic planning process includes full and proper consideration of the potential effects of this Greenway network development upon the environment and upon communities across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Waterways Ireland believes that it is best environmental practice for them to undertake a SEA of the Ulster Canal Greenway Development Strategy.
Waterways Ireland have consulted with the Northern Ireland Environment Agency and Environmental Protection Agency in a SEA Screening exercise on 25/03/16. The response from the NIEA is available here, which welcomes the decision to undertake a SEA as best environmental practice to benefit the Ulster Canal Development Strategy. The response from the EPA is available here.
Waterways Ireland and their project partners will develop the Ulster Canal Development Strategy and SEA of the Strategy throughout 2016 and further information on the progress of the Strategy and the SEA of the Strategy will be made available on this site.
