Sligo Greenway
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Sligo Greenway Feasibility Study December 2018 rpsgroup.com/ireland File Number Sligo Greenway Feasibility Study Document Control Sheet Client: Sligo County Council Project Title: Sligo Greenway Document Title: Feasibility Study Document No: MGT0417RP0001 Text Pages: 103 Appendices: 3 Rev. Status Date Author(s) Reviewed By Approved By th F01 Final 29 Nov 2018 LM, SM PK ROC th F02 Final 30 Nov 2018 LM, SM PK ROC F03 Final 17th Dec 2018 LM, SM PK ROC LM F04 Final 20th Dec 2018 PK ROC SM Copyright RPS Group Limited. All rights reserved. The report has been prepared for the exclusive use of our client and unless otherwise agreed in writing by RPS Group Limited no other party may use, make use of or rely on the contents of this report. The report has been compiled using the resources agreed with the client and in accordance with the scope of work agreed with the client. 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No part of this report may be copied or reproduced, by any means, without the written permission of RPS Group Limited Sligo Greenway – Feasibility Study TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................. 4 1 INTRODUCTION & DESCRIPTION ....................................................................................... 6 1.1 BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................................ 6 1.2 GENERAL DESCRIPTION .............................................................................................................. 7 1.2.1 Proposed Sligo Greenway.................................................................................................. 7 1.2.2 Disused Collooney to Bellaghy Railway Line ..................................................................... 7 1.3 PROPOSED BENEFITS .................................................................................................................. 8 1.4 LEGISLATION .............................................................................................................................. 9 1.5 PLANNING AND POLICY ............................................................................................................ 11 1.6 OTHER REPORTS ....................................................................................................................... 14 1.7 CONSULTATION ........................................................................................................................ 15 1.8 ASSESSMENT OF REQUIRED STATUTORY APPROVAL PROCESS ............................................... 17 2 CONSTRAINTS STUDY ..................................................................................................... 18 2.1 POPULATION & HUMAN HEALTH ............................................................................................. 18 2.1.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 18 2.1.2 Existing Environment ....................................................................................................... 18 2.1.3 Identified Constraints ...................................................................................................... 23 2.2 BIODIVERSITY ........................................................................................................................... 23 2.2.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 23 2.2.2 Existing Environment ....................................................................................................... 23 2.2.3 Identified Constraints ...................................................................................................... 38 2.3 LAND, GEOLOGY AND SOILS ..................................................................................................... 39 2.3.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 39 2.3.2 Existing Environment - Geology ...................................................................................... 39 2.3.3 Existing Environment – Soils and Subsoils ....................................................................... 40 2.3.4 Identified Constraints ...................................................................................................... 44 2.4 WATER ...................................................................................................................................... 44 2.4.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 44 2.4.2 Existing Environment – Hydrology .................................................................................. 44 2.4.3 Existing Environment – Hydrogeology ............................................................................ 49 2.4.4 Identified Constraints ...................................................................................................... 50 2.5 LANDSCAPE .............................................................................................................................. 52 MGT0417RP0001 Rev F04 i Sligo Greenway – Feasibility Study 2.5.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 52 2.5.2 Existing Environment ....................................................................................................... 52 2.5.3 Sligo County Development Plan (2017 – 2023) ............................................................... 53 2.5.4 Identified Constraints ...................................................................................................... 55 2.6 AIR AND CLIMATE ..................................................................................................................... 56 2.6.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 56 2.6.2 Existing Environment ....................................................................................................... 56 2.6.3 Identified Constraints ...................................................................................................... 57 2.7 CULTURAL HERITAGE ............................................................................................................... 57 2.7.1 Outline of Cultural Heritage Study .................................................................................. 57 2.7.2 Statutory Protection of Cultural Heritage Sites ............................................................... 57 2.7.3 Identified Cultural Heritage Constraints ......................................................................... 64 2.8 ASSESSMENTS OF CURRENT INFRASTRUCTURE ASSETS .......................................................... 64 2.8.1 Condition of the Railway Line .......................................................................................... 64 2.8.2 Condition of Embankments ............................................................................................. 66 2.8.3 Condition of Culverts and Bridges ................................................................................... 67 2.8.4 Drainage Issues ................................................................................................................ 71 2.8.5 General Widths Available ................................................................................................ 72 2.8.6 Encroachments ................................................................................................................ 73 2.8.7 Railway Stations .............................................................................................................. 74 2.8.8 Level Crossings ................................................................................................................ 78 2.8.9 Boundary Inspection ....................................................................................................... 79 2.9 ROAD SAFETY ASPECTS ............................................................................................................ 80 2.9.1 Road Crossings................................................................................................................. 80 2.9.2 Alignment of the N17 with Railway Line ......................................................................... 85 2.9.3 Connection to Public Transport ....................................................................................... 86 3 PRELIMINARY OPTIONS ASSESSMENT ............................................................................. 88 3.1 GENERAL DESIGN REQUIREMENTS .........................................................................................