Whitewood Boardwalk to be longest in country

A planning application for the Whitewood Boardwalk and Link Trail at Kilmainhamwood is expected to be lodged within the next month.

The facility would include a boardwalk across the Whitewood lake just south of Kilmainhamwood and a trail linking to both the village and the Boyne Valley to Lakelands Greenway.

At a meeting of Kells Municipal Council on Monday, councillors were told that a Part 8 planning application for the project would come before them next month.

Executive Engineer, Ricky Nolan told the meeting the aim of the project was to significantly enhance recreation and activity in the area.

"The scheme will consist of a floating boardwalk 270m in length. There will be two 20metre adjustable ramps at both ends that can be adjusted as water levels go up and down. The boardwalk will be three metres wide and will have wide guard rails for safety.

"It will complete a 3km walking loop. It links in with the Navan to Kingscourt greenway and also the village of Kilmainhamwood to the west. .

"It will provide a high quality recreational area around Whitewood lake," he said.

Councillors were told that there had been landowner engagement. There were three landowners in the scheme and the council had obtained consents.

Cllr Eugene Cassidy said it was great to see this project getting to this stage. "I want to acknowledge the great work done."

He said there was a similar project at The Acres in Drumshanbo, Co Leitrim. It is 160 metres in length. The Whitewood boardwalk will be the longest in the country. It will create a looped walkway. it is another way of connecting the village to the greenway, another amenity on the greenway.

"The country has a lot of greenways at the moment and going forward we going to need something with an edge and this is it. It will be the jewel in the ground. Cavan are pushing ahead with doing up Dún a Ri park and connecting it to the greenway in the next year or 18 months so. It will be seven or eight kilometres back to Kilmainhamwood, creating this loop. It will be a major attraction. It is great to get it to where we are today," he said.

Cllr Michael Gallagher said it would be a fantastic facility. He asked if they had permission from all of the owners as one had contacted him saying he was unhappy with the proposals.

Cllr Gallagher was told consent had been given by three landowners. One landowner did not give consent but the scheme was adapted to avoid that landowner.

Cllr Sean Drew said it would boost the attraction of the whole amenity. "We look forward to seeing the Part 8 coming forward," he said.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme