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COUNCILLORS in the Tralee Municipal District have approved plans for the development of a ten-kilometre greenway between Tralee and Fenit.
The project will see a continuation of an amenity trail on the outskirts of the town which was developed by Kerry County Council in 2016 and which links Casement Railway Station and Mounthawk at Bracker O’Regan Road.
The project will see the completion of the remaining rural section of this route to Ballynahoulort to Fenit by construction a three-metre wide greenway suitable for walking and cycling.
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The route – on lands in the ownership of Kerry County Council – will predominantly follow the railway corridor and works will be completed in one phase.
Councillors today (Monday) approved the development following consideration of a report on the 277 submissions received during the public consultation on the greenway.
A public information day was also held in Fenit on May 23 and was attended by approximately 200 people while the detailed plans for the route were made available in council offices and on the council website.
The key objectives of the Tralee-Fenit Greenway project are:
• Develop the local tourist economy by building a safe cycling and walking amenity which allows locals and tourists to cycle safely in a car-free environment
• Provide a new link between Fenit, Tralee and the surrounding townlands and thereby improve the social fabric of our local communities
• Provide an amenity that allows for universal access attracting families, the elderly and people with disabilities
• Complement a range of existing and future tourism trails throughout Kerry
The project will also involve the removal of remaining railway rails, the clearance of vegetation, provision of access controls, crossing and safety barriers and other associated site works.
Kerry County Council believes the project will provide clear economic benefits for Fenit, Tralee and surrounding areas. There will be close collaboration with the communities along the route as it is developed. The council will now apply for funding to develop the greenway.
