Cost-benefit may scupper footpath extension

A proposal to extend a footpath about 450 metres outside of Belturbet on the Clones Road is being subjected to a stringent “cost-benefit” analysis, councillors attached to the Cavan-Belturbet Municipal District area have been told.

Cllr Brendan Fay (Independent) asked for a footpath extension to Creeney Cottages, a proposal supported Fianna Fáil’s John Paul Feeley who noted that the section already has public lighting.

Fine Gael’s Peter McVitty agreed “it’s desperately dangerous”.

But senior engineer Paul Mulligan stated that the only funding stream available for such works was ‘Active Travel’ and, given there were only around a half a dozen cottages there, it would be “difficult” to get the proposal over the line.

“There are schemes we would want to do that come to 70 to 80 or more [houses]. You have to look at the cost-benefit of that versus six or seven. It’s difficult.”

‘Near misses’

Also in Belturbet, Cllr Fay asked if the council could improve pedestrian safety on the Naughan Road in Kilconny, where the road was narrow with a wall on one side and a high bank and buildings on the other. Again he stated that there had been “near misses”.

The road connects to a highly populated area. “It’s very dangerous,” said Cllr Fay.

In response Mr Mulligan pointed out that the road width was less than six metres. “It would be nice to see it happen, but it’s so challenging.”

There was support from Cllrs John Paul Feeley (FF), Patricia Walsh (FF) and Áine Smith (FF).