April 2004

Council votes to protect Moville shore walk

Cllr. McDonald told members of Donegal County Council that the area of shoreline adjacent to the Sli na Slainte coastal walk and on the seaward side of the R241 Scenic Tourist Road between Moville and Greencastle, which is currently designated Category One under the County Development Plan, should be re-designated to High Amenity and subject to planning restrictions.

"Category One status applies to low lying land where most rural activities takes place and council have a positive attitude to development where the landscape is deemed to have the capacity to absorb. This is clearly inappropriate for the area around the Moville to Greencastle Shore Walk, which is one of the most scenic areas," she said.

The area has heritage value because of its scenic amenity, landscape, seascape, fauna and flora, biodiversity and heritage houses," Cllr McDonald argued.

The recent successful appeal to An Bord Pleanala against the decision to grant permission to a large development in the same location was instrumental in highlighting the huge support for protection of the area and the genuine love with which people regard the shore walk.

"With the present decline in both fishing and farming, tourism is taking centre stage as the core industry and chief sources of employment, both directly and indirectly. In fact., an initiative has just been instigated to develop Inishowen as a Green Box for Eco Tourism with a project pool of visitors being drawn from both national and international sources. Preservation of areas of natural beauty would be an integral part of any such programme."

"Recreational/leisure boating has been increasing in recent years. The arrival of the Foyle Ferry between Magilligan and Greencastle, the Toucan One leisure boat operation from Derry to Moville, the increase in the number of passenger liners travelling through Lough Foyle to Derry and back out to the Atlantic have all added to the area's potential for water-base tourism. The view to be had from these vessels, including a view of the woodlands adjacent to the walk are undoubtedly one of our area's greatest attractions," she said.

Back