Tuam Greenway project falls at first hurdle at County Hall

By TONY GALVIN THE proposal to run a cycling and walking Greenway along the rail line between Tuam and Kilbannon was rejected in a very definite manner when it came before a meeting of Galway Co Council on Monday. Members were so vehemently opposed to any proposal that might put the reopening of the rail link between Claremorris and Athenry in jeopardy, that even a suggestion that the idea be included in the countyâ€â„¢s Walking & Cycling Strategy Report couldnâ€â„¢t find a seconder in order to put it to a vote in the chamber. Tuam Area Cllr Shaun Cunniffe argued that there was little likelihood of any movement towards connecting Tuam to the national rail network anytime soon, so it would make sense if the Greenway group leased a section of track, with the proviso that it would be returned if the rail project got the go-ahead. However, there was outright opposition to this proposal from all sides of the chamber. It was argued vehemently that the acceptance of any proposal which would work against the aim of linking up the Western Rail Corridor would fly in the face of the councilâ€â„¢s own policy.[private] Several members stated that the inclusion of the Tuam Greenway proposal would make a â€Å“laughing stockâ€Â of the council, as those opposed to the rail project would be delighted to see it so undermined. Presenting the draft Walking & Cycling Strategy Report, council official Liam Gavin explained that a reference to the Tuam Greenway proposal had been removed from the report, explaining that it was contrary to the Co Council policy of supporting the campaign to bring rail traffic back to Tuam and completing the Western Rail Corridor. Cllr Cunniffe insisted that the prospect of Tuam Railway Station reopening was so far in the future that the issue hadnâ€â„¢t even warranted a feasibility study. He argued that road transport would take preference and an opportunity to create this recreational facility for the Tuam area was being lost. He proposed that the Greenway proposal be left in the Walking & Cycling Strategy Report, so at least there would be an alternative plan in place if it was needed, which he felt would be when it become obvious there is little official will to progress the rail plan. However, Athenry-based Cllr Peter Feeney argued that such a proposal was playing into the hands of those who felt the rail plan shouldnâ€â„¢t even get a hearing in the first place. â€Å“The Tuam line is being described as old and disused, which is not true. There is no need to break this link, which has been there since the 1860s. Tuam is the link between Sligo, Galway and Limerick and we should be fighting for its survival, not cannibalising a perfectly good piece of infrastructure,â€Â he said. He won widespread support for his argument that taking out even a five-mile stretch of line to build a temporary Greenway between Tuam and Kilbannon would send a signal to their opponents in Dublin that the people of the area had abandoned the cause of rail enshrined in the County Development Plan. Cllr Sean Canney appealed for all involved not to get bogged down in entrenched positions but to come together and see if they could work out a way of preserving the rail line while facilitating new walking and cycling routes. â€Å“The last thing we want is to adopt a strategy which will fly in the face of our support for the Western Rail Corridor. The report, minus the Tuam Greenway, was proposed to the meeting. Cllr Cunniffe made a proposal that the Greenway be included, but failed to get a seconder for his motion. A vote was then taken which saw 22 members vote for adopting the report and only Cllr Cunniffe voting against. [/private]