Ballinasloe to Athlone Greenway - Please support before 7th September

As you may be aware consultation is currently underway for the Athlone to Galway Cycleway and is open for submissions. It is imperative that as the local community we actively show our support for this project, as the route is not yet determined and every location between Athlone and Galway will be advocating for the greenway to pass their doors!
Below is a sample submission below and I’d ask you to copy and paste and insert your own details ( also please feel free to add amend any details you feel relevant) and email directly to info@galwaytoathlonecycleway.com. For full details see www.galwaytoathlonecycleway.com  Deadline is the 7th September.  ( Note all text in bold must be amended to your own personal information/details. )

Also if you haven’t already done so, please sign & share the uplift campaign https://my.uplift.ie/petitions/ballinasloe-must-be-on-the-athlone-galway-greenway-route
 
 
See here a sample (just change parts in bold) 

To: Galway – Athlone Cycle Way Project Team

I JOHN SMITH , SHOP OWNER, and resident of CREAGH BALLINASLOE  wish to fully pledge my support of the  Galway to Athlone Cycle Way. 
 
I  fully support the project, any proposed route for this project must go through Ballinasloe , the town has so much to offer and to enhance the greenway for the end user as briefly outlined below.
What Ballinasloe as a destination has to offer the Cycleway
 
Accessibility/Infrastructure:
Ballinasloe is easily accessible, as it occupies a strategic location adjacent to the M6 motorway and is serviced by railway linking Dublin and Galway with daily public transport services to Galway, Athlone and Dublin along with a rural transport Local Link service.

• M6 Motor Way
• Dublin Galway Railway Line
• Daily National & Local bus services

 
Facilities:
 
Ballinasloe boasts 3 hotels , B&B’s & Short term rental for visitors to offer overnight stays, with multiple  restaurants, coffee shops playgrounds,pubs, music venues , convenience shops, medical/recreational services, hairdressers/barbers, and discount stores including large multinational stores. The town also has a wealth  of sporting facilities including a leisure centre , Golf Course, running track, horse riding & Gaa stadium.  The town provides higher order important services such as Portiuncula Hospital, one of the largest general and maternity hospitals within the country.

• Hotels, B&Bs – accommodation opportunities at different price points
• Places to Eat – Diverse options and choice – restaurants/ bakeries/ delis/ pizza places/ fast food
• Activity destination –horse-riding, swimming, bootcamp, playgrounds , GAA stadium

 
Amenities:
As one of the larger hubs located in Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands, Ballinasloe is the only town that can offer visitors direct access to a  national walking route, the Shannon Navigation system & a national  cycle way. Location on the Beara Breifne Way, access to the Shannon navigation system via the River Suck with the  25 berth public marina,  along with  access to  the Dublin- Galway greenway  will  provide Ballinasloe with a Unique Selling point. Ballinasloe is the only point along the route that can offer this to users of the greenway
Other Distinct natural amenities Ballinasloe has to offer include angling on the River Suck, Walkways and trails through unique boglands, Garbally College & Grounds , rich heritage & ecclesiastical  trails

• Cross roads of  National Water, walking& cycle routes
• Unique  underutilised recreational & heritage assets

 
Need:
Ballinasloe has suffered massively with Job losses over the past 20-25 years, with the loss of major employers including At Cross, Square D & the mental health hospital. Over the past number of months further hits have been taken with the imminent loss of  Aptar & the phasing out of the peat extraction and peat-based energy generation in the area.  The provision of Greenway through the town, will revitalise the area by generating footfall and creating spin off enterprises but most importantly it will allow  the  underutilised  facilities and resources in the town be expanded and grown.

• Growth& expansion of underutilised amenities & resources

 


Local Support:
Support of the local community groups/community members/Businesses

• If each individual business /community group/community member could show what commitment they may be able to give – to make Ballinasloe bike ready & bike friendly – some possible suggestions:( note this may not be applicable to all eveyone… so, please delete if not) eg a Covered Bike Parking side or rear of shop suitable for groups, Storage lockers, Discounts for cycling groups on Greenway, cafe or restaurant  ( cyclists lunch/ packed lunch / ring and collect/ delivery etc) or a shoe shop, trekking or outdoor gear, or bike Hire /  repair, or hairdresser or beauty treatment /massage, or coffee or WiFi or phone repair or credit, boat hire, taxi, food , drink, local produce, art , souvenirs , photography etc ie  tell the project team how you can meet the needs of people passing through and staying. Nearly every business could offer the cyclist/ tourist something geared to their needs. 

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