The pathway along the trainline from Renmore to Ceannt Station is "dreary", narrow, and is not "walker, bicycle, and buggy friendly", and is need of both renovation and being re-imagined.
This is the view of Social Democrats Galway City East councillor Owen Hanley. At Monday's city council meeting, he put forward a motion calling for a strategy to develop a new image for the pathway.
Cllr Hanley's strategy involves a future for the line which connects Eyre Square and Renmore; addresses both "environmental and anti-social issues"; and would be conducted "in consultation and collaboration" with Renmore residents.
He pointed out that the Renmore train path was used daily but "two people can barely fit past each other", and as such it needs to be accessible for more walkers, especially those with buggys, and also cyclists. He said it also needed to have measures that would make it safe at night and stop it from being a "litter blackspot".
"The heritage sites in the area need to be preserved and if done smartly the views above Lough Atalia could become a tourist sight," he said. "We need to see more priority given to walking and cycling infrastructure on the east side and this is only the start."
