With the Greenway coming in five years, we need to get our act together - Gurn

Manorhamilton needs to be put the wheels in motion now to ensure it reaps the benefits of the Sligo, Leitrim, Northern Counties Railway (SLNCR) which is set to be completed in five years, said Cllr Felim Gurn at the latest meeting of Manorhamilton municipal district.
Speaking to the Leitrim Observer, Cllr Gurn said: "The masterplan is to have an overall plan in order for Manorhamilton to benefit from the SLNCR.
“We have to look at where we will put accommodation; where we will put maybe apartment buildings; where we will put a hotel; where will we put pods.”
In a motion, Cllr Gurn asked that Leitrim County Council develop a masterplan for Manorhamilton town particularly with the SLNCR greenway coming in 2027/28.
“The masterplan should consider projects including the fair green at the castle, river walks, the courthouse museum, hotel, pods and apartment building accommodation in order to see the real benefits of the greenway. We need to start working on this now to avail of funding streams,” he said.
He added, “With the Greenway coming in five years, we need to get our act together. This is totally different than any other Greenway,” adding that they will have 'spurs'.
“These are routes that mean you have to come into the town; so the greenway won't bypass the town but will be coming into it; that will be from Collooney to Ballintogher to Dromahair to Manorhamilton, Glenfarne, Blacklion to Enniskillen.
“If we don't come up with plans for these towns and villages, the main two benefactors will be Sligo and Enniskillen because they have plenty of accommodation,” he said.
The official response said the council is “acutely aware of the importance of having a well developed Masterplan for the town of Manorhamilton in order to be in a position to submit well-developed applications under the various funding streams that are currently available to support community and economic development.”
The response continued that it is anticipated that the next round of funding for the development of Town Centre First Plans will be announced before the end of the year and an application for funding will be submitted.
“If successful, the Town Centre First plan will be developed by the local town team working alongside the Leitrim town regeneration team and will identify the challenges, actions and integrated responses across a number of themes (business/commercial; community/cultural; housing; built environment; heritage).
“The potential projects mentioned above will no doubt form a key plank of the future Manorhamilton Masterplan.”