Council to cost Bailieboro footpath extension

Cavan County Council will undertake the costing of an extension to a footpath on the Kells Road in Bailieborough. A motion by Cllr Sarah O’Reilly (Aon) queried if a suitable funding scheme could be accessed to extend the footpaths there.

Cllr O’Reilly said that the footpath ends at an 11-home development but a ribbon development of eight further homes are beyond the footpath’s end. She said one of the home owners is visually impaired and the lack of a footpath is a significant imposition on their quality of life.

Cllr O’Reilly told members that residents had signed a petition to bring the problem to public attention. She said the National Council for the Blind had also made representations on the matter.

The Aontú councillor said there was no need to purchase land to facilitate the building of the footpath as there is a grass margin already in council ownership.

Cathaoirleach Paddy McDonald told the executive he also received representations on the matter. He said it is a very busy road .

Alan Lyons, MD area manager, said he was open to discussions on the matter. He said the National Transport Authority’s Rural Active Travel Investment Programme could provide a funding option, but said the local authority has to be conscious of where the money is being spent under such programmes.

Cllr Val Smith also supported Cllr O’Reilly’s motion.

Director of Services Paddy Connaughton said the local authority would cost the proposal, but stressed that undertaking work in the town core is the first priority.