Statement on Pinewoods walkway

I am happy to confirm to you that the path in question belongs to Westport Town Council and is a public path and as such, is already, always has been and always will be, a public right of way.

As part of the granted planning permission the pathway adjacent to the Lidl site will be upgraded by Lidl, as a condition of their planning permission at their own expense.  This is no way affects the ownership of the pathway.

The work on the Lidl section of the path was delayed by the recent industrial disputes on the site.  This was outside the control of Westport Town Council but is now resolved.  

The rest of the pathway is being upgraded by the Town Council with a €150,000 grant from the Dept of Sports and Tourism. 

All the residents in the area recently received a written update and schedule of the works from me.  

Both sections of the path will be upgraded to same standard as the Greenway and will be part of the 'Northern Greenway', to be maintained as part of the official Greenway, for pedestrian and cycle access. 

All works on both sections of the pathway will be completed by the end of November when the pathway will reopen to the public.

I am very disappointed that it has taken Lidl so long to start work on the pathway.  I know that my neighbours in St Mary's Crescent and the Pinewoods look forward, as I do, to the upgrading of the pathway.  

Cllr Keith Martin

086 0691182