Warning that Laois woods might not be ‘trip attractor’ for walkers

Hundreds of people who walk daily in Stradbally’s Oughaval Woods shouldn’t have to drive to the amenity from the town according to a councillor who wants a footpath to the area.

That was the proposal made by Cllr Paschal McEvoy, Fianna Fáil, at a recent meeting in County Hall in Portlaoise.

However, Cllr McEvoy was warned by a fellow councillor that the proposal might get rejected if he or the council can’t prove the woods are what’s called a ‘trip attractor’.

Cllr McEvoy called on Laois County Council to apply for funding under the national Active Travel Scheme to continue the recently finished footpath from Oughaval Cemetery to Oughaval Woods.

He said the footpath to the cemetery was a ‘masterpiece’ and should now be extended.

“It does make sense to continue on to the wood where hundreds of people go daily,” he said.

Cllr Aisling Moran, Independent, backed his colleague and said it was ‘ridiculous’ that the footpath was not laid to the woods in the first instance.

Cllr PJ Kelly, Fine Gael, also supported and said the new footpath had already improved safety for residents.

While Cllr Aidan Mullins, Sinn Féin, endorsed the appeal, he cautioned Cllr McEvoy about getting funding. He said an application to extend a footpath to Corrig Wood in Portarlington failed twice to get Active Travel money.

“When they refused the funding they said you have to have a ‘trip attractor’. You have to convince the powers that be Oughaval Woods is a trip attractor…the Active Travel scheme is intended to get people to walk yet they deny funding…I wish you well Paschal but I’m afraid what the response is going to be,” he said.

Diarmuid O’ Donohue, Senior Executive Engineer, replied in writing. 

“Laois County Council will arrange to meet with the Elected Member on site to review the scope of works required,” he said.

The issue was raised at the recent Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District Meeting.