Urban-rural divide in delivery of active travel projects in Mayo

THE urban-rural divide on the delivery of active travel projects in Mayo has been called out by councillors in the Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District.

They have supported a call from Councillor Damien Ryan for the National Transport Authority (NTA) to create a separate fund for villages.

Currently, the gateway to funding is mainly through Local Transport Plans (applicable to Ballina, Castlebar and Westport) and Safe Routes to School (with 21 Mayo schools funded, and 30 outstanding).

The Active Travel team in Mayo County Council has highlighted with the NTA how a lot of towns and villages fall outside the above two.

Active Travel Plans are another gateway and are being developed to address this, looking at Ballyhaunis initially. Baseline data has been gathered and the next step is a desktop study and community engagement to identify a network, avoiding pinchpoints and holding space and creating opportunities to utilise other funding streams.

It is anticipated the Ballyhaunis plan could be done by the end of the year.

Councillor Ryan emphasised that smaller towns and villages can't be left behind by the NTA and they should be provided with essential connections.

It shouldn't be a competition between urban and rural, and two streams of funding are needed, he said.

Councillor Alma Gallagher said there is an urban-rural divide, and the continuous omission of the communities between Ballyhaunis, Kiltimagh and Charlestown - the 'black triangle', when it should really be a golden circle.

Ballyhaunis has worked with Knock for a walkway out to the centre of excellence and on to Knock and Kiltimagh Knock United football club. But every time announcements are made there is huge disappointment, she said.

National policy was disgraceful when the majority of our population is living in rural areas, stated Councillor Gallagher.

In Ballyhaunis, €260,000 was decommitted along the N60 and the bridge. Its recommitment still hasn't happened.

The local primary school has over 400 pupils, tripping on the walkway and hanging over the barrier at the bridge, and yet they aren't listed among the 50 schools.

She was interested to hear the plans for Ballyhaunis and welcomed the announcement.

Admitting he has 'lost faith' in the NTA in relation to active travel, Councillor Patsy O'Brien said rural villages are completely left behind.

It should have been left to the local authorities.