Kerry County Council should be leaders in developing safe walking and cycling routes in the county’s towns.
That’s the view of Sinn Féin councillor Paul Daly, who raised the matter at the recent Tralee MD meeting.
Cllr Daly is calling for a blueway along the Big River from Brewery Road to Killeen.
Cllr Daly asked the council for a timeline for the development and completion of this blueway along the Big River.
The council has committed to continuing the development of riverside walks and linkages along the banks of the River Lee and along the Big River, subject to environmental assessment, as an objective in the current Kerry County Development Plan.
Cllr Daly told the recent Tralee MD meeting that Kerry County Council need to be leaders in developing safe walking and cycling routes.
He said there is a build-up of traffic outside certain schools in the town, which has been noticeable now that schools are back.
Cllr Daly said the only way to deal with that is to get people out of their cars, and the council needs to develop more safe cycling routes around the town.
The Sinn Féin councillor said if there aren’t cycle lanes there, people are not going to break the habit of getting a lift in the car everywhere.
The council replied that any such blueway from Brewery Road to Killeen would depend on identifying a suitable funding source, and would require strong local community involvement.
The council said it will facilitate, where appropriate, the provision of blueways that will not have significant adverse effects on the environment.
