Planning permission has been refused for a significant stretch of the proposed River Barrow Blueway project in Carlow, even though Laois and Kildare have already granted permission for the project.
A 47 kilometre stretch of the River Barrow blueway in Co. Kildare was recently been given the green light.
The local authority has followed in the footsteps of Laois County Council which approved a 16 kilometre section passing through Vicarstown, Courtwood and Fisherstown.
However, the Waterways Ireland project is now facing an uncertain future after Carlow County Council refused permission for a further 52 kilometre stretch.
The proposed leisure route crosses the three counties from Lowtown in Kildare to St. Mullins in Carlow.
Following objections to the plan further south, Carlow County Council refused planning permission for that section.
Speaking to John Whelan on Midlands 103, Orla Conroy from Barrow Way Bike Hire in Vicarstown said: “We can understand why people objected and what their concerns are”.
“It is a special area of conservation and is spectacularly beautiful,” she said.
She said she would be in favour of the project, once it is done sensitively.
The concerns expressed were around the effect the works could have on the local flora and also that it may attract fast cyclists.
Careful
“When you are working near bridges with heavy machinery, you have to be careful. I think if everyone sits down and tries to work out something, then there could be a compromise and it would be able to go ahead,” Ms Conroy said.
“Works have to be done in a sensitive way. We completely understand people’s concerns. We are coming at this from two ways – we hire out bikes but can see the beauty of the Barrow, also,” she said.
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