Sinn Féin Councillor Thérèse Ruane has welcomed the show of interest in Rehins Woods by Minister Shane Mc Entee this week and the fact that the Neighbourwood Scheme would reopen shortly.
Cllr Ruane, a member of Raheens Woods Steering Committee stated:
“A development plan for Raheens Woods has been submitted to the Department of Agriculture for consideration under the Neighbour Woods Scheme. Considerable work and input has gone into this plan. It is welcome that this scheme will now be opening shortly. This is a very worthwhile project and the Minister’s show of interest is welcome. What we now need is a firm commitment from the Minister that this project will now go ahead.
“It is 18 months since my proposal to approach Coillte to explore the possibility of developing Raheens Woods as a public amenity for the town was unanimously backed by members of Castlebar Town Council. Great progress has been made since then. Coillte has given its full support to this project, and shows continued commitment in developing woodlands as public amenities. Other woodlands, owned by Coillte have been developed in many other towns and locations throughout the county such as Belleek Wood, Ballina, Brackloon Wood, Westport, Drummin Wood, Pontoon, Westport, and Moorehall.
“The county council has drawn up plans for developing parking facilities for cars, bikes and buses on the Newport Road, at the entrance to Raheens Woods, which will now go through the planning process. The application to the NeighbourWoods Scheme includes parking facilities, installation of multi-purpose pathways, seating, display boards, signage, gates, planting of trees and shrubs and it is estimated to cost approximately €100,000 euro. A firm commitment is needed that this funding will be provided.
“Raheens Wood is within two miles of Castlebar and is just 500 metres from the Castlebar lakes. The woods are in close proximity to the proposed greenway linking Castlebar to the Great Western Greenway to Turlough, the Museum of Country Life in the future . All these developments will change the face of Castlebar as a tourist destination while providing badly needed public recreational amenities for the people of the town. The Raheens Woods project shows what can be acheived when the local authority, the Forestry Service, Coillte, and the local community collaborate and work in partnership together. It is a great acheivement to have come this far and I will continue to work and do my utmost to bring this project to fruition.”
