12.14.8.8 Peatways
Teh draft CDP states the following:
..."Rather than just developing a singular ‘peatway trail’ for walkers, it is envisaged that these would be substantial landscape corridors of c. 1 – 2 kilometres wide (i.e. 500m – 1000m either side of the railway or pedestrian trail), that will provide connections for amenity, ecology/ecosystem services. The Peatway Trails and Corridors will provide a strategically planned network of natural and semi-natural areas (bogs and rewilded areas) with other environmental features (such as re-wetted peatlands, wetlands, lakes and ponds) designed and managed to deliver a wide range of ecosystem services such as air quality, space for recreation and climate mitigation and adaptation. They will also provide important wildlife corridors and will be free for energy infrastructure such as solar farms and wind turbines."
Bord na Móna request clarity on the above paragraph. It is not clear what the council means by a “corridor” and a “trail”. As it stands the paragraph current reads that any land use would be constrained to a corridor of 1-2 km wide and in some cases this would also include the trackway depending on the physical nature of the bog and its intended further land use.
This would not be practical based on the potential land use plans not withstanding other factors that would need to be considered such as;
- The majority of rail bed occupies the outer boundaries of the bogs so they would be adjacent to 3rd party lands.
- Outside of a rail corridor of 5 – 6 metres width some bogs will be wet and inaccessible following Peatland rehabilitation
- In some instances, the cycle path may be on a renewable energy site which will be developed before any path/trail.
- Insurance issues regarding allowing licensed access onto large expanses of rehabilitated peatlands also to be considered.
Bord na Móna are seeking further clarification for section 12.14.8.8. and what the council mean by “corridor” and “trail”.
Bord na Móna may subsequently suggest re-wording of this section pending clarification of the above.
We look forward to your response in this regard.