We, the undersigned ask Galway County Council and the Department of the Environment to take immediate steps to protect, maintain and improve the public right of way from Renville Quay to Renville Point.  This amenity is used frequently by the people of Oranmore, Maree and the hinterland and the pathway has been deteriorating due to lack of maintenance over recent months and years.

A recent analysis of the pedestrian traffic on the right of way found that in a period of fifteen minutes in early evening, thirty pedestrians had walked to Renville Point using the path. The right of way has been enjoyed even more so by members of the local community since the start of the Covid pandemic.

We are concerned about the current condition of the road surface which is extremely poor and requires restoration as a matter of health and safety.  The bushes and overgrowth have caused the access to narrow at certain points and immediate steps need to be taken to restore the surface and widen the access by removing overgrowth as necessary.

These works along with coastal erosion protective works are necessary to preserve and protect what is a popular resource for the people of Oranmore/Maree and surrounding areas and ensure the safe enjoyment of the right of way by those who use it.

The current County Development Plan includes as a Policy (Section 10.13 Policy PRW 1 – Preservation of Public Rights of Way) to "preserve and protect verified public rights of way which give access to seashore, mountain, lakeshore, riverbank or other places of natural beauty or recreational utility.  Furthermore the County Development Plan includes as an Objective (under the same section)  "to identify, map and protect verified existing public rights of way that give access to seashore, mountain, lakeshore, riverbank or other places of natural beauty or recreational utility as they become available to the Planning Authority over the lifetime of the plan."

We commend the public representatives who have already worked on this issue and we now call on the Members and Management of Galway County Council and the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to take measures to protect this valuable amenity for the local community as a matter of priority.

This submission along with all the names of the signatories thereto will be sent by Oranmore Heritage to all Members of Galway County Council, the Minister For the Environment, Climate and Communications, and the Roads, Environment and Heritage Sections of Galway County Council.