Part 8 - Omeath Pier to National Border

Comhairle Contae Lú Louth County Council

Part XI - Planning & Development Acts 2000 (as amended) Planning & Development Regulations 2001 (as amended) -

Part 8 Greenway from Omeath Pier to National Border

Louth County Council hereby gives notice of its intention to carry out development of a greenway from Omeath Pier in Omeath to the County Bridge along the R173 Fathom Line at the national border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in the townlands of Cornamucklagh, Drummullagh, Knocknagoran and Lislea.

The proposed greenway, measuring approx. 4.2 km in length, will mainly traverse agricultural land and woodland belonging to a number of landowners and generally be situated between/along the old rail line embankment and the shore/coastline of Carlingford Lough.

The proposed greenway will connect to existing and future sections of the overall cross-border Carlingford Lough Greenway network which seeks to encourage more people to walk and cycle and undertake more cross border trips, either for recreational, amenity or travel to work purposes.

The proposal will comprise a shared walking and cycling greenway ranging in width from 2 metres to 3 metres that will be constructed mainly with an unbound granular surface course. It will also incorporate the following components:

a 1.2 m high post and rail timber fence or other appropriate boundary fencing on each side of the greenway including the installation of stock proof fencing, security fencing, privacy screening, planting and boundary walls where required;
an adjacent 0.5 - 1m wide over the edge ‘v-ditch’ drainage channel or french drain and a 0.5m buffer strip along the Greenway.;
a new box culvert as extension of existing culverted private accesses at L70541 (locally known as Shore Road) and installation of safety barriers where required and a 140 metre section of asphalt surface providing a shared surface along a private access;
additional cycle parking facilities and new trail head signage at Omeath Pier;
traffic and transport improvements such as new signage and road markings where the greenway interacts with public roads, access controls (pedestrian/cycle friendly gates), road markings and traffic calming measures; and
all necessary site works such as tree felling, route clearance, sea wall repairs and fencing.

In addition to the above, and in accordance with the provisions of Article 81(2)(c) of the Planning & Development Regulations 2001, the proposed development comprises the removal of a small 5m section of the boundary wall of Omra Park which will not materially affect the character of a protected structure.

In accordance with Article 81(ca) and 120(1B)(b)(i) of the above-mentioned regulations, Louth County Council, as the competent authority, has concluded from a Screening Determination, based on an examination of the nature, size and location of the proposed development that there is no real likelihood of significant effects on the environment arising from the proposed development and as such has determined that an EIA is not required. The details of which are available to the general public.

At any time before the expiration of 4 weeks from the date of publication of this notice, any person may apply to An Bord Pleanála for a screening determination as to whether the proposed development would be likely to have significant effects on the environment.

Please note that any planned changes to speed limits will be done so under a separate amendment process of the Speed Limit Bye Laws.

Plans and particulars of the proposed development will be available for inspection (or purchase at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy) during normal office hours from Tuesday, 7th July to Wednesday 5th August 2020 (inclusive)at the following locations:

Louth County Council, Town Hall, Crowe Street, Dundalk, Co Louth, A91 W20C and their website:

https://www.louthcoco.ie/en/services/transportation_and_infrastructure/carlingford-lough-greenway/

Submissions or observations with respect to the proposed development, dealing with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area in which the development would be situated, and clearly marked ‘Part 8 – Greenway from Omeath Pier to National Border’, may be made in writing to the undersigned at Louth County Council, Town Hall, Crowe Street, Dundalk, Co Louth, A91 W20C, before 5.00pm on Wednesday 19th August 2020.

This project has been supported by the EU’s INTERREG VA Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body. Dated this Tuesday 7th July 2020

Adrian Kerley, Project Coordinator, Infrastructure, Louth County Council