A key Derry greenway project will now go ahead after a government department agreed to release the funds needed to complete the scheme.
The Derry News revealed in January that work could not begin on council's Clooney Greenway project after the Department for Communities (DfC) said it could not provide the funding due to 'budget uncertainties'.
This in turn lead to concerns being raised over the safety of children attending the new Foyle College and Ebrington Primary School due to the volume of traffic in the area, as it had been hoped the greenway would provide them with a safe route for walking.
Plans for the Clooney Greenway were first unveiled in February 2010 as part of a major re-development project which included the construction of the new schools at a former army base on the Clooney Road.
The proposal also included a 1.75 mile landscaped pedestrian and cycle route to the rear of the school site, linking Kilfennan Valley Park, St Columb's Park, and the Peace Bridge.
However, the DfC has now agreed to provided £263,423 of the cost for the project, with Derry City and Strabane District Council contributing £179,579.
The council’s contribution included £61,400 for the purchase of lands for the project.
Council paid £42,000 and £18,000 respectively for two plots of land, one located at Nelson Drive and another at Elder Crescent, which was owned by the Education Authority (EA).
News of the funding emerged at yesterday afternoon’s meeting of the local council’s Environment and Regeneration Committee.
The meeting was told that the DfC had indicated to council that 50 per cent of the £263,423 funding must be spent by March 31, 2019, with the remainder having to be spent by March 31, 2020.
Karen Philips, Director of Environment and Regeneration with Council, said it was ‘therefore critical’ that the project would now be taken forward to ensure that the funding could be drawn down prior to the deadline.
Commenting, the Waterside SDLP councillor Martin Reilly said that the new greenway would ensure ‘safe’ travel for children attending the newly opened schools.
“This represents the value of partnership between local and central government and other statutory partners,” he said.
“This Greenway brings benefits in terms of the health of locals, compliments the new schools in the area by allowing children safe and active travel and builds stronger community cohesion across a large part of the urban Waterside.”
The DUP's David Ramsey said it was a welcome development for residents in the area.
If you have a story or want to send a photo or video to us please contact the Derry Now editorial team on 028 7129 6600 for Derry City stories Or 028 7774 3970 for County Derry stories. Or you can email editor@derrynews.net at any time.