12.14.8.8 Peatways –
Section 12.14.8.8 of the draft development plan identified three primary peatway “corridors” and states the following with respect to these “corridors”:
“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. As it stands the paragraph currently reads that a corridor of 1-2 km wide would essentially be sterilised from future development and in some cases this would also include the trackway depending on the physical nature of the bog and its intended further land use. As outlined previously, It is unusual for a County Development Plan to constrain lands in such a manner, particularly when there are conflicting policies and objectives within the plan and its associated appendices with respect to designation of Wind Energy Development Areas, Strategic Energy Zones, Future land use plans and Green Infrastrucure Plans etc. As an example, with respect to Corridor No. 1 specifically i.e. Rathangan Town/Killinthomas Wood north to Ticknevin, this corridor sits within an area designated in the draft Wind Energy Strategy as being “Open to Consideration” for Wind Energy Development yet, the inclusion of the text in Section 12.14.8.8. directly conflicts with that designation as it states that these corridors will be “free from energy infrastructure such as solar farms and wind turbines”. The designation of such a corridor also conflicts directly with the National Planning Framework and the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy for the Region, which, exclusively call out the suitability of “the extensive tracts of publicly owned peat extraction areas” for renewable energy.
As outlined previously, we welcome the focus with respect to the opportunities that are possible and acknowledge the potential for linkage of greenways and blueways through our peat lands (via ‘peatways’). We fully believe that these linkages can be integrated successfully alongside other developments or biodiversity and nature conservation measures etc. with minimal impacts. However, in every instance, future climate action projects and renewable energy developments are considered a precursor to the development of amenity and to land use plans.
Bord na Móna request a review of this section of text and we are seeking further clarification for section 12.14.8.8. on what is meant by “corridor” and “trail”.
We may subsequently suggest re-wording of this section pending clarification of the above.