KINNEGAR TO GREENWAY Have your say on the proposed scheme 3. WHAT IS A GREENWAY... Greenways are corridors of land recognized for their ability to Greenways, as vegetated buff ers protect natural habitats, connect people and places together. These ribbons of open space improve water quality and reduce the impacts of fl ooding in are located within linear corridors that are either natural, such fl oodplain areas. Most Greenways contain trails, which enhance PURPOSE OF CONSULTATION... as rivers and streams, or man made, such as abandoned railroad existing recreational opportunities, provide routes for alternative 1.In November 2016 Ards and North Borough Council The proposed Greenway is a ‘major’ development as the site beds and utility corridors. transportation, and improve the overall quality of life in an area. commissioned studies for three potential Greenway routes as Stage area is greater than 1ha. The Planning Act () Two of the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) Greenways programme. 2011 places a statutory duty on applicants to consult the The next stage (stage 3) looks at the Greenways in more detail. community for a minimum of 12 weeks prior to submitting a The third of these stage 3 studies is the Kinnegar to Donaghadee planning application for a ‘major’ development. Greenway and following the completion of the study the Council intend to submit a planning application. The scheme proposes to The purpose of this consultation is to ensure that communities enchance the existing North Down Coastal Path from Kinnegar to are made aware of and have an opportunity to comment on Donaghadee. The proposed Greenway will be approximately 26km the Greenway proposals before the planning application is long. submitted. As such, the community consultation process is a central part of a positive and proactive planning system.

WIDER CONTEXT... National Guidance recommends a preferred minimum width of 3m to facilitate dual walking and cycling The2. background to the development of a Greenway between to Helen’s Bay Greenway and Comber to on a shared facility. The actual width to be constructed depends on issues such as available width and and Newtownards lies in the Strategic Plan for a Greenway Network. Newtownards Greenway. likely level of use. Certain sections of the Greenway at pinch point and bridges may be limited in width to The Strategic Plan was published in November 2016 and fl ows from approximately 2m due to construction costs and constructability issues. a number of DfI strategies and policies. In addition as part of its The aim of the Strategic Plan is to build a regional Greenway ongoing commitment to investment in the health and wellbeing of the network, signifi cantly increasing the length of traffi c free routes community, the Council is progressing with the design of Greenways to encourage a substantial increase in the number of people Typical Greenway Detail walking and cycling as regular part of everyday life. that were identifi ed in the Strategic Plan. These include the Kinnegar to Dongahadee Greenway (as identifi ed in this consultation), the

“A Strategic Plan for Greenways which will cover the whole of Northern Ireland. This plan will provide a framework to assist councils and other bodies to develop their own local schemes as part of a Greenway Network for the entire region.” Michelle McIlveen MLA, Minister for Regional Development

1m 3m 1m

Benefi ts of a Greenway... Improving Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation "CreatingECO-FRIENDLY an Active Community"Reduced Vehicular Congestion “Tourism Magnet” ACTIVE COMMUNITY "Clear Skies, Clean Rivers, Active Living and Protected Wildlife " Green- Collar Enhancing Cultural Awareness IMPROVING HEALTH and Community Identity Community Asset RISE IN PROPERTY VALUE 4. ROUTE FROM KINNEGAR TO DONAGHADEE... The Council, in October 2017, engaged AECOM and Sustrans to commence the design of proposed Greenways between Kinnegar and Donaghadee. The current proposed route put forward as part of this pre-application community consultation is shown below.

Route of Section 9 - Beach to Stricklands Glen Route of Section 10 - Stricklands Glen to Bangor Marina

Route of Section 11 - Bangor Marina to Ballyholme Route of Section 12 - Ballyholme to 5. DETAILED ROUTE SECTIONS...

Existing Comber Greenway

Route of Section 13 - Groomsport to Orlock Point Route of Section 14 - Orlock Point to Donagadee

Route of Section 1 - Kinnegar to Train Station Route of Section 2 - Holywood Train Station to Seapark Road 6. YOUR FEEDBACK & NEXT STEPS... Have Your Say

Route of Section 3 - Seapark Road to Yacht Club Route of Section 4 - Yacht Club to Glen Road As part of this community consultation, this public exhibition at Bangor Aurora Aquatic & Leisure Complex will be on display from Thursday 17th May until 1st August 2018.

Feedback sheets and a post-box are provided beside these boards to enable individuals to submit their comments about the proposed Greenway. In addition feedback can be channeled via the sources below.

In addition there will also be a public exhibition at Queen’s Leisure Complex and Donaghadee Community Centre from Monday 21st May until Wednesday 1st August 2018.

Route of Section 5 - Glen Road to Royal Golf Club Route of Section 6 - Royal Belfast GC to WwTW More Information..

To view the proposals online please visit: http://www.ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk/about-the-council/consultations

If you wish to send us further comments about the proposed Greenway you can do so via the following: Email: [email protected] In writing to: AECOM Planning, Beechill House, Beechill Road, Belfast, BT8 7RP (comments on Comber to Newtownards Greenway to be recieved by 1st August 2018)

Following completion of this community consultation, your comments will be reviewed and where applicable will feed into the fi nal design Route of Section 7 - WwTW to Grey Point Fort Route of Section 8 - Grey Point Fort to Crawfordsburn Beach process. Thereafter, a planning application may be submitted to the Planning Department at Ards and North Down Borough Council.