ABC Council seeks funding for essential upgrades to Clare Glen, addressing maintenance and bridge replacement needs.
Tandragee: The ABC Council is really hoping to snag some funding from the Department for Infrastructure’s Active Travel Unit. They want to make some much-needed upgrades to Clare Glen.
This spot is super popular for walking and has a lovely forest vibe, plus a caravan park. But, honestly, the forest walk needs a lot of TLC, and the bridge is still waiting to be replaced.
Good news is, there’s a chance these issues could get sorted soon. An agenda report was shared before a meeting on December 3, and it sounds promising.
The report mentions that the DfI thinks Clare Glen could be eligible for funding to fix paths, put up fencing, add signage, and replace that bridge. But there’s a catch: they’ve got a tight deadline to get it all done.
They’re planning to submit an application to tackle the paths and other stuff first. Then, they’ll look for more funding later to get that bridge over the Cusher river sorted out.
To get the funding, they need to spend at least half of it before the end of this financial year, which is March 2025. And all the work has to be wrapped up by the end of the 2025/26 financial year.
Back in June 2024, a council report stressed how important it is to replace that bridge quickly. It used to be a handy crossing for folks who couldn’t do the whole walk or wanted a shorter stroll along the river.
But, sadly, the bridge has been closed for a year now because it’s not safe anymore. A structural engineer checked it out and said it’s too risky for anyone to use and can’t be fixed economically.
The council has looked into options for a new bridge, but the site is tricky. Any new bridge would have to be modular, meaning it can be brought in using the existing paths and built right there.
It sounds like a complicated and pricey project. Clearly, they need to invest a good chunk of money to sort out these issues, fix the paths, and get that bridge replaced.
