Lack of funds delays cycleway

FINGAL County Council has responded to criticism of its commitment to construct a cycleway between Balbriggan and Skerries.

Joe O’Brien, the Green Party’s candidate in Dublin Fingal for the next general election, has called on the council to explain what happened to an initial allocation of

?¬750,000 that was agreed for the project.

Mr O’Brien said it has been five years since the money was allocated by the Department of Transport.

“Bar some small sections between Balbriggan and Balrothery, we have still to see any work being carried out of the ground for the cycleway,

? he told Northside People.

“At this stage I would have to question commitment levels to the project. In particular, I would be concerned about the funding situation for the project and how much has been spent on the Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPO).

?

Mr O’Brien said the project is just one key leg in what should be a cycleway that will run all the way from Balbriggan to Sutton.

It would take in Ardgillan, Skerries, Rush, Donabate, Newbridge House, Rogerstown and Broadmeadow estuaries and Malahide Castle and Portmarnock on its way to Dublin.

“I think if we can get the Skerries to Balbriggan link completed, both the public and the council will begin to see the huge returns that cycleways have been proven to bring to local communities and economies.

?

A spokeswoman for Fingal County Council said that in early 2010 it entered into a Project Funding Agreement with the National Transport Authority (NTA) to provide

?¬750,000 in grant-aid towards the design and construction of the cycleway.

“Between 2010 and the end of December 2012,

?¬503,000 was spent on the planning, design and construction of the Balrothery to Balbriggan section of the cycleway,

? she told Northside People.

“In 2013, the estimated cost of completing the scheme was

?¬500,000.

“However, neither Fingal County Council nor the NTA were in a position to provide the necessary additional

?¬250,000. The council is currently funding land acquisition and associated costs. Fingal County Council served the last remaining notices for the CPO in December 2014.

?

However, the spokeswoman said at present there were insufficient funds to allow construction to resume.

“At the end of each year, Fingal County Council enters into discussions with the NTA with a view to funding projects for the following year,

? she stated.

“Unfortunately the NTA indicated that no funding would be available in 2014 or 2015 for the Skerries to Balbriggan Cycleway.

?

The council will shortly engage a consulting engineer to amend the design drawings and put the scheme on public display.