Strathfoyle Greenway : Council seeks meeting with Departments over funding

The matter was raised by Alliance Councillor Rachael Ferguson in a motion which was unanimously backed at the recent Full Council meeting.

Colr. Ferguson had proposed that the Council recognise the need for active and green travel, and that all communities including rural communities should have opportunities to avail of this, and that the Council call on the Department of Infrastructure, Communities and Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to work together with Council to commit to progress the next stage of the Strathfoyle Greenway.

The move comes after residents last week highlighted the great benefits the 4.7km greenway - which will link into the existing Waterside/ city centre network - will have for people right across the city.

Colr. Ferguson said the greenway has been a priority for the Enagh community since 2012, when it was first granted planning permission.

“Our Council has seen fantastic results from other greenways - everything from schoolchildren having the option to use the greenway for active travel to school to more people using greenways as an option to commute to work,” she said, adding that Council’s own research had shown that for every £1 spent on such projects, £22 wads accrued in benefits, including improved mental and physical health, and a cleaner, greener way of addressing the climate emergency.

Sinn Féin Colr. Paul Fleming said this was a campaign his party has been continually supportive of “the very reasonable” demand from the community. “We see at the minute too the surge in people cycling and running. With this greenway a lot of preparatory work has already been done, it’s ready to go, so I support the essence of the motion... let’s hope it’s done sooner rather than later.”

DUP Alderman Graham Warke said that the community had been campaigning for many, many years. “It feels to me it is time,” he said, and proposed an amendment that representatives from the three departments meet with the Council’s Environment & Regeneration team and that the departments explore all potential funding streams to allow works to start.

People Before Profit Colr. Shaun Harkin said this was part of the wider vision for transforming Derry and the North West. “Like many other projects across the district this one needs to be delivered on,” he said, adding that there was some frustration that declarations of support have not as yet translated into delivery.

SDLP Colr. Sean Mooney said the greenway had been “long in the pipeline and should be delivered on”. “The project itself is wonderful in its actual structure and in what it is trying to achieve, i.e. tying in Strathfoyle and bringing it in through the town and the Waterside and connecting to the whole of the city.”

UUP Ald. Andrew McKane was also supportive. “Beautiful part of the world down there, and a great opportunity to connect Strathfoyle up with the rest of the city along the River Foyle,” he said.

Independent Colr. Gary Donnelly said he had been in contact with campaigners and shared their frustration. “Given we are coming out of COVID and the mental health problems associated with that, Strathfoyle and the isolation and feeling disconnected, it’s important we get this over the line.”

DUP Ald. David Ramsey said the Strathfoyle Greenway will be brilliant. “I can just see the bicycles and the fishing rods heading down to Strathfoyle to the lake for fishing. It’s very good to see this moving forward,” he said.

Several representatives welcomed the tabling of the motio and the amendment, which they said strengthened it. The motion, as amended, was universally backed.

Meanwhile the Department for Communities (DfC) has vowed to work collaboratively with other agencies to try to progress the Strathfoyle Greenway project, subject to the necessary approvals and budget availability.

Responding to a plea from the local community for the three departments to work together to deliver a funding package, a DfC spokesperson said: “The Department is continuing to engage with Derry and Strabane District Council and representatives from DFI and DAERA in order to progress the Strathfoyle Greenway project.

“The proposed project is led by Derry City and Strabane District Council and they are currently developing the Business Case for the project and finalising the necessary lands acquisition. As such the Council would be best placed to provide you with an update on project funding requirements.

“The Department does, however, have an excellent track record of funding greenways in the Derry and Strabane District Council Area, and subject to the necessary business case approvals and budget availability will work collaboratively with other partners to provide support to this project where possible.”