Plans for the first 15km section of the West Clare Railway Greenway, between Kilrush and Kilkee via Moyasta, have been submitted to An Coimisin Pleanla by Clare County CouncilClare County Council said it is developing the West Clare Railway Greenway as an accessible route which will support active travel and provide new opportunities for recreation, tourism and connectivity between places of work, education and leisure.The proposed greenway will follow the route of the former West Clare Railway, where feasible, Clare County Council said on its website.West Clare Railway was a narrow-gauge railway that operated between 1887 and 1961. The railway, which stretched 85km, started in Ennis and went via Ennistymon, then down the coast via Milltown Malbay before splitting off towards two termini at Kilrush and Kilkee. The drawings for the greenway route include diversions away from the old railway alignments to avoid houses and farmyards on or near the old railway.While the council has done prep work on other sections of the full route, the planning application today only relates to the section between Kilrush and Kilkee, amounting to just over 15km.IMAGE: The phase 1 route. MAIN IMAGE ABOVE: A photo of part of the route showing a former railway bridge at Moyasta.The council said it Will continue to advance the Voluntary Land Acquisition Process, including farm accommodation works in parallel with the required statutory process agreed in the Code of Best Practice for National and Regional Greenways.That process includes applying for Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs) for land that cannot be acquired through the voluntary process, and documents have been published to seek permission for CPOs from the national planning board.The council said that the move to submit a planning application follows five years of preparatory work, including engagement with landowners, farming representatives and the local community. The council said that all affected landowners have been consulted in advance of the publication of notices. Alan Farrell, deputy chief executive and director of service for housing with Clare County Council, said he wanted to thank all those involved, including landowners, representative bodies, stakeholders and members of the public, for their ongoing support and cooperation in helping to progress the scheme to this important milestone.He said that the greenway delivery team had worked closely with all parties throughout the process and that the work carried out to date demonstrated Clare County Councils commitment to meaningful stakeholder engagement and to addressing any concerns as the project progresses.IMAGE: The Kilrush to Kilkee route is just one of four sections of the planned overall greenway. The provision of a greenway in this location will enhance access to the wider West Clare region while highlighting the importance of sustainable tourism, active travel, built heritage and the natural environment. Experience elsewhere in Ireland has shown that greenways can also act as powerful economic drivers, supporting sustainable tourism, creating local employment and helping to revitalise rural economies, said Farrell.He added: By attracting both domestic and international visitors, they generate ongoing revenue for local hospitality and recreation businesses while supporting long-term community health and development. This project also provides an opportunity to promote the historical and educational significance of the former West Clare Railway and to showcase the scenic character of the surrounding area.IMAGE: An artists impression of a section of the greenway.Details according to the plansAccording to the plans, the greenway will typically be 3 metres wide with an asphalt surface and 1m green or other verges on each side. The width of the route will narrow down at constraints, including at former railway bridges or embankments. According to a description of the plans: Two trailheads are proposed along the route, one at Moyasta and the larger of the two at Kilrush. These trailheads will incorporate car parking, bike stands, picnic areas, bins, toilets and other ancillary facilities.The plan outlines that bridges, retaining walls, culverts, farm access paths, farm crossings, and public road crossings and access points will be needed for the route. Livestock-proof fencing with native hedgerows is proposed for sections of the development that border or run through what is currently private farmland, while existing fencing and hedging will be retained where possible.The application documents also stated that, along the former rail corridor, mature vegetation will be preserved where possible, while New and supplementary native planting will be installed along verges and other suitable screening and boundary treatments as required along the route.Full details of the project, including CPO maps, general maps and reports can be found at westclarerailwaygreenway.ie/section-1.IMAGE: Proposed Kilrush trailhead.IMAGE: Proposed Moyasta trailhead.The car park trailheads at Kilrush and Moyasta.