Councillor will 'take an angle grinder' to gate blocking a walkway in Stranorlar

A Councillor has threatened to ‘take an angle grinder’ to a gate blocking a scenic walkway in Stranorlar.

Cllr Martin Harley made the comment in relation to the 16-year saga over a path access through Drumboe Woods in Stranorlar. The route connects the new Finn Valley College with the town, however, it has been closed over health and safety concerns raised by Donegal ETB.

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The matter was initially raised by Cllr Gary Doherty at this week’s monthly meeting of the Lifford-Stanorlar Municipal District.

He was informed by Kathleen Browne, of Donegal County Council’s Community Development section, that they hoped access would be restored once construction works are completed at the school in November. Cllr Harley, a member of the Donegal ETB board, said he would force open the gate himself if the education board would not.

“The responsibility of opening the route is on the ETB, but there’s also an onus on us (councillors) too as it’s been closed for 16 years,” he said.

“It (the gate) has to be taken down now or, if not, I’ll take an angle grinder up there myself and take the gates off. But, hopefully, it won’t come to that. That walkway has been there for over 100 years. I’m very annoyed about the whole thing, but it needs to be opened as soon as possible”.

Cllr Patrick McGowan remarked that a local man took an angle grinder to the gate lock a few years ago, but it was replaced by the then principal.

“I blame the ETB for this as the council has bent over backwards,” he said. “The ETB is actually in breach of their planning permission by not having this pathway opened. Hopefully it will be open by the end of the year.”

The council’s planning officer, Ciara Condon, said the access issue was raised with the ETB when permission for the development was granted, and that the right of way is marked in the local area plan.