Controversial Letterkenny pedestrian and cycling route finally approved

A special plenary session of Donegal County Council has approved the construction of a pedestrian and cyclist travel facility adjacent to the R229-1, Kilmacrennan Road from the Hospital Roundabout to Knocknamona in Letterkenny.

A counter proposal by Fianna Fáil’s Cllr Ciaran Brogan to defer the decision over “ongoing concerns” that had been raised about the project was defeated on a vote of 14 against and 10 in favour of the deferral.

Earlier Cllr Michael McBride (Ind.) formally proposed the construction stating that while there had been initial reservations “about the original design on it and the council officials have gone back and redesigned it”.

He said: “They’ve shown drone footage to show the traffic movement there on that road in the morning time, they build a kind of cross section of the road, down on the council grounds in Letterkenny and they showed us how emergency vehicles can navigate through there, which was a great concern that we had.

ABOVE: Demonstration of the emergency overrun area by Fire Service on Friday April 26, 2024

“We asked to speak to people in the HSE about that, so on the morning that they did the model for us, there were people there from the emergency services, from the ambulance service, from the Fire Brigade service and in my opinion, it’s workable.”

He added that it was just part of a bigger plan for active travel in the town.

Cllr Jimmy Kavanagh (FG) seconding the proposal said much of the fears over the construction had been allayed the morning of the council presentation.

He said that the emergency services and gardai lack of objections “allayed any fear that I had”.

“There would be no advantage now in delaying it, it would hold up the whole active travel scheme,” he added.

Cllr Ciaran Brogan (FF) acknowledged the role of the executive since he had last asked for a decision at its previous meeting.

“The reason that I proposed that to be deferred that day was the lack of engagement that we had with the ambulance service and with the fire and emergency services and there was huge concern as well that people had made submissions as well, there are residents in the area, there is a school in the area that had raised concerns about the Active Travel and the implications of it as well.

“I acknowledge the efforts made by the Executive in meeting with hospital management and indeed the emergency services and setting up the model for us in Letterkenny.

“However, despite them efforts I still think this is premature. And I know I wouldn’t be happy to go ahead and support it, as it is, because active travel is something that we have heard a lot about over the last number of years and it’s maybe about changing the habits of many people, going to and from their destination, but we need to be careful to listen and engage with a lot of the traffic users using the road at the minute”

He said that it was the busiest stretch of carriageway with intensification of access between the two hospitals, with a new 110-bed community and nursing unit being built as well, a new Errigal College and Little angels schools, the extension to Donegal Hospice, the residential area and then there was the turn off to Windy Hall.

“So I have huge concerns about the traffic movements of that area” adding that there was no point in spending public money foolishly” and “ a step too far”.

Clllr Gerry McMonagle (SF) said “it was a move in the right direction” and part of a bigger jigsaw. Later he added that these decisions “are not made on a whim”.

He said that concerns and issues raised had been addressed and accepted by the emergency services “and as the drone footage showed we couldn't see where those delays that Cllr Brogan is talking about, where they were going to emanate from”.

Cllr Kevin Bradley (Ind.) welcomed the good work that had taken place and that of a previous presentation and while he agreed with Cllr Brogan’s concerns, especially pertaining to the Windy Hall Road, he was happy to support it.

“Overall the presentation last Friday was very good and we were all out where we met the ambulance and firemen, the gardai and the guys in the car park all seemed to be onside for the cycle lane.

Cllr John O’Donnell said the “cycle land was very important” and he was happy to support it.

Cllr Donal Coyle FF agreed that they did have a lot of concerns in relation to the emergency services “and a solution has been found” but while the NTA saw it as a vital project to the infrastructure that is needed, “but there is not much point in having a cycle lane coming in on the four lane and going no further and not having a link right into the Mountain Top”.

Cllr Paul Canning FF said that previously has spoken against it, and while acknowledging the work of officials in addressing their concerns, “it’s still piecemeal” in so far as Letterkenny being our biggest town and not having “a masterplan”.

At this stage Cllr Brogan sought another deferral and was supported by Cllr Manus Mady Kelly (FF), who added:

“I feel myself, this is not about funding, It is about the people of Letterkenny” and “the timing is wrong”.