£200,000 investment for eight new Greenway designs

by Gráinne Connolly

The Department for Infrastructure and the Public Health Agency have announced funding of £200,000 to develop plans for eight new Greenway schemes.

The funding has been provided under Stage 3 of the ‘Small Grants Programme for Greenways’ and will award £25,000 for the development of detailed designs for each project proposal across the four council areas of Newry, Mourne and Down, Antrim and Newtownabbey, Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon and Causeway Coast and Glens.

The eight successful Greenway proposal projects are as follows:

• Downpatrick to Newcastle
• Downpatick to Comber
• Doagh to Larne
• Craigavon to Aghagallon
• Portadown to Caledon (via Armagh)
• Portadown to Moy
• Banbridge to Scarva
• Ballymoney to Ballycastle

Andrew Grieve from the Department for Infrastructure said: 

“Exercise – Explore – Enjoy: a Strategic Plan for Greenways, sets out the Department’s ambition for the creation of a 1,000km network across Northern Ireland.

"This funding will help more Councils to develop Greenway projects that align with that plan and we look forward to seeing their proposals move towards fruition.”

Mary Black, Assistant Director for Health Improvement at the Public Health Agency added: 

“We are delighted to be working with the Department for Infrastructure to support Greenway development as the Greenways provide opportunities for children and adults to incorporate walking and cycling into their everyday lives, whether for active travel, recreation or health.

“As many adults and children are not taking the recommended amounts of physical activity, enhancing the infrastructure to help everyone get more active is a positive step. 

"Being physically active can help prevent a number of serious health conditions and can cut your risk of heart disease and some cancers, as well as reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes, stroke and joint pain.  It also helps to boost mood and reduce depression and anxiety.”