Sligo County Council, in consultation with TII, is suspending any further work on this project.
Sligo Greenway (Collooney to Bellaghy) – Project Update
Sligo Greenway (Collooney to Bellaghy) – Project Update from Sligo County Council
Following an extensive options selection process in line with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) Project Management Guidelines, an Emerging Preferred Corridor for the Sligo Greenway was identified in 2024, centred on the disused railway line. This route was considered the most suitable option for delivering a high-quality greenway in accordance with the Code of Best Practice for National and Regional Greenways, which prioritises the use of state-owned lands to minimise impacts on private property. Iarnród Éireann was consulted as part of this process and supported this option, subject to the land remaining in Iarnród Éireann’s ownership, with the greenway constructed and operated under a license agreement. This option suited both Iarnród Éireann and Sligo County Council, as it enabled the development of the greenway and also protected the railway line in the event of the railway re-opening in the future.
However, during the public consultation held in late 2024, Iarnród Éireann advised that it could not support the use of the disused railway alignment for the greenway at this time, but indicated support for exploring an alternative “alongside” option running parallel to the railway.
Sligo County Council subsequently undertook a high-level review of an alongside option. The review concluded that while technically feasible, the alongside option introduces significant additional constraints, costs, and risks compared to the Emerging Preferred Corridor centred on the disused railway line. Key issues include:
- Extensive Land Acquisition: Approximately 250 private land parcels would be impacted, with over 70% of the route requiring private land acquisition.
- Reduced Compliance: The alongside option diverges from the principles of the Code of Best Practice for National and Regional Greenways in terms of the use of state-owned lands and offers a lower-quality user experience.
- Environmental and Planning Risks: Increased ecological impacts, greater interaction with Special Areas of Conservation, and higher risk of not securing planning approval.
- Higher Costs: Preliminary conservative estimates indicate costs of a minimum of 22% higher than the route centred on the disused railway line due to additional structures, engineering complexities, and land costs.
Based on these findings, Sligo County Council has concluded that the alongside option is not a viable or recommended alternative to the Emerging Preferred Corridor which is centred on the disused railway line.
Considering the above, Sligo County Council, in consultation with TII, is suspending any further work on this project. However, the Council remains committed to the development of greenway infrastructure in County Sligo and, should Iarnród Éireann revert to their original decision to support the development of the Sligo Greenway centred on the disused railway line, Sligo County Council, in consultation with TII, will seek to resume the development of the project, subject to financial resources being available at that time.
Sligo County Council wishes to thank all stakeholders and members of the public for their engagement on this project.