Walkers hope for reopening of popular Usher’s Lake route

By Darren J. Prior

Locals who use a popular park in Swords have been left confused about its future.

The walkway around the Usher’s Lake section of the Ward River Valley Park in Brackenstown attracts hundreds of regular walkers.

However, speaking to Northside People, two of those walkers said they do not know what has happened between the landowner and Fingal County Council that has led to the current situation, in which a section of the walkway has become inaccessible.

John O’Callaghan told Northside People that the walkway was a “beautiful, pleasant, peaceful, tranquil place to walk. Beautiful scenery. There is a lake.

“You are walking through a forested area.

“It is a beautiful walk, and for access to be denied is an inconvenience for people who use this on a daily basis or on a regular basis.”

According to Don Kebbell, there had never been any problems until last year.

“Out of the blue about a year ago, the little wooden bridge that the council had built and the pathway disappeared,” he said.

“And no one seems to know why or what happened.”

More recently, the remaining section of the pathway has been completely blocked, according to John and Don.

In a memo recently circulated to Fingal councillors, the council’s Chief Parks Superintendent acknowledged the representations made by users of the park and said:

“A number of months ago this boardwalk section was installed by the Council with the agreement of the landowner on privately owned land.

“In recent days, the boardwalk deck has been removed by unknown persons making this section of the pathway less accessible to the public.

“The Council has written to the landowner seeking permission to reinstate the boardwalk and offering to meet to discuss any relevant issues.

“A response to this request is awaited and, pending this, it is not possible for the Council to intervene further.”

According to Don:

“It is just hard to understand what has happened between the owner of the park at Brackenstown and Fingal County Council.

“We don’t know what the reason behind it is.”

Both John and Don told Northside People that they are not interested in speculating about what may or may not have arisen to cause the current situation.

They, and many other people in Swords, simply want to be able to enjoy using this section of the Ward River Valley Park again, as they had done for many years until last year.