An Bord Pleanála Ref.: PL07.JA0033 Development : Connemara Greenway Project - Clifden to Oughterard, County Galway. Applicant: Galway Co. Co. 10 Prescribed Bodies: NRA An Taisce Dept. of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Fáilte Ireland Geological Survey of Ireland Observers: Kathleen and Diarmuid Desmond W.McG. Hollinger Mary Conneely 20 Joe McNamara Michael Clancy Keith Geoghegan, Glengowla Mines Dr. Matthew Parks, Mining Heritage Trust of Ireland Don and Jean Friel Thomas and Mary Cahill Rosemarie Webb, Oughterard Scout Leaders. Pobail Mam Ean Teo. Galway Cycling Campaign Helen Ferguson 30 Harry Joyce Anne-Marie Kelly Paul Hughes, Abbeyglen Castle Hotel 8 Maire O’Connor, Lough Inagh Lodge Clifden and Connemara Heritage and Historical Society PL07.JA0033 An Bord Pleanala Page 1 of 105 Jamie Young, Killary Adventure Centre Forum, Rural Development Partnership Clifden and District Community Council Gerry MacCloskey, Connemara Safari Irish Hotels Federation Connemara Chamber of Commerce Michael Gibbons Karen Mannion William Leahy 10 Kevin Joyce Tommy O’Toole Oliver Coyne Michael McNamara Inspector: Conor McGrath SPI Date of Site Inspection: 1st and 2 nd October & 10 th December, 2012 20 Date of Oral Hearing: 11 th and 12 th December 2012 PL07.JA0033 An Bord Pleanala Page 2 of 105 Table of Contents: Section Introduction 1.0 Description of proposed development 2.0 Related Developments 3.0 Prescribed Bodies 4.0 Third Parties 5.0 Policy Context 6.0 Oral Hearing Report 7.0 Assessment 8.0 Legal Issues 8.1 Design Principles 8.2 Impacts on Property 8.3 Flora and Fauna 8.4 Hydrology and Drainage 8.5 Soils, Geology and Hydrogeology 8.6 Archaeology and Cultural Heritage 8.7 Human Beings and Material Assets 8.8 Gaeltacht - Language and culture 8.9 Conclusions 9.0 Recommendation 10.0 Appendices: I. Oral Hearing Report II. Environmental Impact Assessment III. Appropriate Assessment PL07.JA0033 An Bord Pleanala Page 3 of 105 1.0 INTRODUCTION This report relates to an application by Galway County Council under S.175 of the Act for approval for the development of a cycle / walking route, predominantly along the line of the disused railway running between Oughterard and Clifden. Thirty-one third party submissions have been received in relation to this application, which include submissions both in support of and opposed to, the proposed development. The application is accompanied by an Environmental Impact Statement and a Natura Impact Statement. An oral hearing in relation to 10 the application was held in the Clifden Station House Hotel, on December 11-12th 2012. 2.0 DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT The Connemara Greenway Project – Clifden to Oughterard proposes to re- develop the disused Galway to Clifden railway line into a walking/cycling track (Greenway) over a distance of 52.4km between Oughterard and Clifden. While a number of deviations from the original railway line are proposed, the proposal 20 seeks to follow the original route of the railway as much as possible. The railway ceased operation in 1935, following which much of the railway lands were sold off. The application proposes that the Greenway will be developed as a permissive trail, with the agreement of landowners. In the event that agreement is not reached with all landowners, Galway Co. Co. have indicated that the use of CPO powers or the establishment of a public right-of-way along the route may be examined at a late stage in order to proceed with the development. The Greenway is designed for light loading with a 2.5m wide bound / asphalt surface. Where required by landowners, it is proposed that fencing will be 30 provided along the route, with gates and cattle stops where necessary. No bins or picnic tables will be provided in order to minimise litter. While the EIS refers to the availability of welfare facilities every 10km approx. along the route, these are to comprise existing facilities at tourist hubs to be used under agreements with the operators. No new facilities are proposed in this regard. Sections of the original railway line have previously been incorporated into the N59 National Secondary Road during previous improvement and realignment works along that route. The National Roads Authority plan to further upgrade the N59 between Clifden and Oughterard, which works are to consist mainly of on- 40 line widening. The subject application originally proposed that an 11.47km PL07.JA0033 An Bord Pleanala Page 4 of 105 section of the Greenway between Recess and Bunscanniff would be provided as a shared footway/cycleway running alongside the upgraded N59. During the oral hearing, the applicants proposed revisions to the development, to reduce the extent of such provision and generally route the Greenway away from the national secondary road, utilising existing local roads and extant sections of the railway line. Where the Greenway is to run alongside the N59, 2.5m separation from the carriageway edge will be provided. The application identifies that seven new or reconstructed bridges will be 10 required along the route, as follows: Bridge Chainage 1. Cloonbeg River Bridge, Ballynahinch 11+700 2. Athry River Bridge, Ballinafad 16+620 3. Bunscannifff Bridge 30+920 4. Letterfore River Bridge (Leam) 40+800 5. Glengowla River Bridge, Glengowla West 46+800 6. Leadmines Bridge, Glengowla East 48+400 7. Oughterard River Bridge 50+200 Bridge structures at Cloonbeg, Glengowla and Oughterard are to be retained and provided with new lightweight steel and timber structures over. The EIS identifies that new bridge structures will be provided at Athry Bridge, Bunscannifff Bridge, Letterfore River Bridge and Leadmines Bridge, comprising the erection of a steel structure with a concrete deck. Bridge design provides for a single gross weight vehicle of 7.5 tonnes. At the oral hearing it was clarified that where the upgrading of the N59 does not 20 take place, the widening of the bridge at Bunscanniff will be required in order to facilitate the proposed Greenway project, rather than provision of a new bridge. It was also confirmed that the proposed revisions to the route of the Greenway identified during the oral hearing, would give rise to a requirement for a further replacement bridge structure over the Owentooey River at approx. Ch. 24000, east of Recess. It is indicated that construction works will be carried out over a 24 month period, commencing at Clifden and progressing in an easterly direction toward Oughterard. Overburden to be removed along the route will be used to form 30 embankments. An error in the EIS and NIS was noted and corrected at the oral hearing, whereby the correct figure for overburden removal is approx. 45,900m 3. Seven construction compounds will be provided along the route, comprising PL07.JA0033 An Bord Pleanala Page 5 of 105 material storage areas, short-term staff welfare facilities and parking. These compounds will close on completion of the relevant section of works. In compliance with Article 120 of the Regulations relating to sub-threshold development, an EIS was prepared for the project having regard to fact that the Clifden to Oughterard route corridor runs through a number of Natura 2000 sites. (Appendix II refers). The Route 10 Chainage 0 - 3200 The route commences in Clifden at Ardbear Bridge and follows a local secondary road from the town rather than the original railway line. This road runs east / southeast for approx. 3.2km around the southern side of Killymongaun hill. This road serves numerous detached residential properties. Between approx. Ch1500 and Ch2200 the road is unsurfaced. At chainage 3200 the road meets the original grassed alignment of the railway running from southeast to northwest. Chainage 3200 - 11700 The route turns southeast alongside a detached dwelling and follows the 20 generally intact line of the railway across open bog. A former extraction area at Ch. 3600 is to be used as a site compound. At Gowlane, Ch. 4000, where the route crosses a local road, an alternative route across open bog to the south is identified where the original route passes by a residential property (McNamara). At Ch. 4700 the railway line passes the remains of a disused mine processing works and traverses some associated features. An existing bridge at ch.5600 is to be retained and the route then traverses open landscape before entering forestry at Ch.8500. At Ch.1120 the route becomes overgrown before crossing Cloonbeg Bridge (Identified in the NIAH - regional importance). An alternative route around the Cloonbeg railway bridge and through forestry to the north is 30 indicated on the plans. At the oral hearing it was confirmed that following structural surveys of Cloonbeg Bridge, this alternative route was no longer necessary or proposed. Chainage 11700 - 15100 The route runs along the R341 for approx. 900m before rejoining the line of the railway on the northern side of the road for approx. 2km. The R341 carriageway is to be relocated to the south to accommodate the 2.5m wide Greenway. Sections of the route in this area were overgrown or waterlogged at time of inspection. At Ch14800 the route is diverted back onto the regional road for 40 approx. 300m, due to the presence of a house on the original railway alignment. PL07.JA0033 An Bord Pleanala Page 6 of 105 Chainage 15100 - 17400 At 15100, the route turns east off the R341 and runs along a local access road. After approx. 60m this roadway is joined by and follows the original railway line. The road provides access to a cemetery and residential properties, on the southern side of Lough Nabrucka (Ballinafad Cemetery). The original bridge between Lough Nabrucka and Lough Athry at Chainage 16650 has been removed. On the other side of this river crossing the route runs along embankment and through shallow cuttings to the N59 at chainage 17400.