8km of continuous cycle lanes to be built in Wexford town over the next six years

By Simon Bourke, Wexford People

The creation of an extended 8km long cycle lane in Wexford town and its surrounds is expected to take up to six years to complete. And while the latest phase of these works was approved at the June meeting of Wexford County Council (WCC), the concerns of those living in an estate soon to be included in the wider scheme were raised by councillors.

While the Beechlawn and Clonard Avenue Pedestrian and Cycle Scheme was presented to, and subsequently approved by, councillors, the welfare of those living in the Glenbrook estate was at the forefront of the councillors’ minds.

The aforementioned Beechlawn scheme commences at the Hospital Junction and extends approximately 1.8km to the end of Clonard Avenue with works continuing onto Whitemill Road. Phase one of the works will see improved pedestrian linkages, new public lighting, and improved pedestrian infrastructure in the vicinity of Kennedy Park National School.

Phase two will provide dedicated cycling and pedestrian infrastructure on “one or both sides” of the road, including a cycle track, a number of pedestrian crossings, junction tightening, and new road markings. Designed to provide “safe and convenient infrastructure” for walking and cycling the works will cost €4.9m with all of the funds being provided by the National Transport Authority (NTA).

However, it was the proposed works further along the road which were vexing Wexford town councillors.

After Councillors Raymond Shannon and Catherine Biddy Walsh said they had both been contacted by residents regarding the safety element of the scheme and the lack of consultation with those living in estates leading onto the Newtown Road, director of services Eamonn Hore said every effort had been made to take on board the concerns of those living in the impacted areas.

Referencing the public consultation process the council must initiate when proposing any largescale projects, Mr Hore said eight submissions had been received in relation to the Beechlawn - Clonard Avenue scheme; five from businesses, three from residents. He also specified the area included in this section of the works.

“This is a further development to the New Ross roundabout - Newtown road scheme, it will go as far as the junction at the hospital and towards Clonard Avenue,” he said. “There are seven schools along this route, so there’ll be seven pedestrian crossings and six bus stops.

“I haven’t seen anything in the scheme which would be considered a showstopper. All the submissions from the consultation were responded to.”

It quickly transpired that the councillors were primarily focused on a part of the scheme which hadn’t been yet brought forward for planning permission.

“My issue is that the rest of the scheme is going ahead without any consultation,” said Cllr Walsh. “This scheme goes as far as Wygram - I only found out about this from the line markings.

“People in Glenbrook have difficulty with the proposals for the entrance to their estate. There was a three-car collision at the entrance. The active travel team haven’t been responding to my queries on this.”

Although Mr Hore said an on-site meeting would be held with residents from Glenbrook later this month to “discuss whatever issues they may have”, Cllr Walsh felt there had been a lack of consultation with those living in that estate for the past three years.

Eamonn Hore, Deputy Chief Executive of Wexford County Council. Photo; Mary Browne

“A juggernaut arrived into that estate in 2023 and started carrying out works, they started digging up the estate and made it so narrow that no car could leave the estate. There wasn’t an accident there in 30 years and on that day a resident was driven down the road, he couldn’t get out of the estate - his wife hasn’t worked since that day,” she said.

At this point chief executive, Eddie Taaffe, intervened.

“This planning application (Beechlawn - Clonard Avenue) relates to a different area, it has nothing do with Glenbrook,” he said. “Unless you object to the significant investment in cycle lanes in the town our recommendation is you adopt this. We’re not asking you to approve anything in Glenbrook until you’re fully assured of what’s happening there.”

Never one to pass up an opportunity to secure some money for his constituents, Cllr Michael Sheehan suggested that the €4.9m be redirected to New Ross if those in the Wexford Borough were unhappy with the proposed scheme.

This did not sit well with Cllr Vicky Barron.

“It’s unfair to use our demands to turn this into a farce, to make it out that we don’t want this,” she said. “We do want this. All we want is some more consultation so we can go back and explain what’s happening to the people.”

Explaining that these works, and those which have already seen the construction of a cycle lane on the Newtown Road, were part of an overall project to ease congestion in Wexford town, Mr Hore said that, when complete, there would 8km of continuous active travel lanes in and around the town’s confines.

“There’ll be over 8km of active travel lanes when the Oilgate to Rosslare Harbour road is done, it’ll connect the New Ross roundabout all the way to Drinagh,” he said. “It will all link up over a period of six years, if we don’t start getting people on their bicycles now the congestion problems are only going to get worse.”

Ultimately, the Beechlawn - Clonard Avenue scheme was approved by councillors and, following a 15-minute recess, Cllr Walsh returned in better spirits.

Revealing she had spoken with members of WCC’s active travel team during the break and that they had agreed to meet with residents in Glenbrook to discuss the scheme, Cllr Walsh confirmed that her blood pressure, which had spiked during the initial discussion, was now at a more sustainable level.