NWRCBG Maureen Doherty Greenways & Blueways Seminar NSMC Joint Secretariat Offices 30 th April 2015

NW Region has a high level of available resources, opportunities and experience in delivery of Greenway & Blueway Development Safe & Navigable Rivers Canal Towpaths Abandoned Railway throughout the region Background

NW Region has a strong Case for increasing provision as the most deprived cross border region on the Island: High levels of transport poverty Reliance on Public and Sustainable Transport – usage levels are above average Highest levels of joblessness of all the regions –Tourism & Recreation Sector of increasing importance High level of poor Health Outcomes linked to deprivation High & Increasing Childhood/Teenage Obesity levels Background

NWRCBG Councils have: Policies for development enshrined in major policy documents Undertaken significant investment in scoping & feasibility studies, for example: A Masterplan for Strabane Town Centre 2010 Derry Access Plan Connect2Derry Sustrans Lough Swilly Railway Report Inis Eoghain Report North West Linear Park Report Donegal County Development Plan Border Town Local Plans NW A Pro- Active Approach

NCN 2012 Donegal Cycle Route – part of Eurovelo Route No.1 NCN Routes 91 & 92 Kingfisher Trail North West Trail Strabane Upstream (Melvin) Foot/Cycle bridge 2014 Waterside Greenway (GW) 2014 Railway Link 2014 Lowrys Lane GW 2014 Maggie Murphys Lane GW 2013 Bay Road GW 2013 Enagh Biodiversity Trail 2012 R. Faughan Access – Beechill NW Projects Delivered to Date

2012 Learmount Biodiversity Trail 2012 Eglinton Heritage Trail 2010 Faughan Valley Cycle Trail 2010 Foyle Canoe Trail 2009 Claudy Country Park 2009 Ness - Ervey Link Riverside GW Foyle Valley GW Woodburn GW Galliagh GW Ballyarnett Prehen GW NW Projects Delivered to Date

NWRCBG Projects Delivered through Collaboration - Example Waterways Project Part Restoration of the old Strabane canal, tow path and lock gates. €1,305,200 For further Information visit

NWRCBG Projects Delivered through Collaboration - Example Inis Eoghain Cycleway Project On & Off Road 50km signed route linking Inis Eoghain Peninsula (Donegal) to Derry/ Londonderry. €549,600 For further Information visit

NWRCBG Projects Delivered through Collaboration - Example Inch Levels & Lough Foyle Project Off Road 9km Looped Greenway around Inch Lake, Donegal & 11km Lough Foyle Shore, Limavady. €839,880 For further Information visit

Regional Development Funding Lobbying As part of the NWRCBG’s Regional Development Role: Committee recognised the value of Greenways to the Region Agreed the need to work in collaboration & avoid back to back planning and interruptions to the network Commissioned through own resources a piece of work that will lay the foundation for a comprehensive NW cross border greenway network This work will also develop an action plan with short, medium and long term actionable sections Now Underway - to be finalised June/July 2015 NWRCBG – 3 Priority Action Areas

Future NW GW Cross Border Collaboration Project North West Greenway Main Spine of the NW Cross Border Region Greenway Network Almost full Off Road provision of 49km section. Utilising disused Railway Line. Truly Cross Border - Linking Strabane, Lifford, Porthall, St. Johnson, Carrigans, Derry/Londonderry, Bridgend, Burnfoot, Fahan and Buncrana.

North West Greenway Facilitating sustainable transport linkage between 3 major regional Urban Centres and commuter settlements. Linking schools, residential areas etc to workplaces and sustainable transport nodes such as bus terminals, stations and the Region’s only train link. Sections already in place at various points Incorporating/Joining more local loops and trails. Opportunity to create a full loop with A5 cycling development on the opposite side of the River Foyle to link Derry/Londonderry with New Buildings, Magheramason, Bready, Ballymagorry & Strabane. Now working with communities and landowners Future NW GW Cross Border Collaboration Project

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