Protesters Walk the Line!

mayo | environment | news report

Sunday May 21, 2006 23:34

by Cllr Keith Martin - Labour Member Westport Town Council

Despite heavy rainfall Protesters walk the Railway Line Walk

The “Stop this Road” committee held a rally on Sunday May 21st at 3pm to protest at the council’s plans to begin work on a road and bridge over the Railway Line Walk.

Taking shelter before the off

With a cry of “Clé, Deis, Clé” Labour’s Cllr Keith Martin led the “Stop this road” march up the Railway Line Walk on Sunday to protest at the council’s new road and bridge over and beside the famous walk.

Despite heavy rain a good crowd attended the rally which started at the Quay School end of the Railway Line Walk. There were plenty of umbrellas and waterproof clothing as the protesters came well prepared. Cllr Martin who is a “Stop this road” committee member and an organiser of the protest rally, first took up a petition from the crowd while Mary Muldoon , Chairwomen of the Civic Trust, distributed information about the walk and the council’s current road and bridge proposals. Other members of the committee issued “I walked the Line!” protest stickers to the crowd.

Ms Muldoon then addressed the assembled crowd where she reiterated the objections to the road and bridge and their detrimental impact on the Railway Line Walk, the wildlife of the area and the proposed Linear Park. Ms Muldoon thanked the crowd for coming out to support the campaign on such an awful day and thanked them for signing the petition and appealed to Westport Town Council to examine the alternative routes of access to the Cloonmonad lands. Ms Muldoon then formally invited Cllr Martin to lead the march up the Railway Line Walk. Along the way the organisers pointed out the length and impact the road would have on the walk, the area’s wetlands and the Railway Line Walk.

The “Stop this road” committee have another rally planned for Sunday at 3pm at the Octagon and are asking everyone to attend and sign their petition. Members of the public are also asked to contact their councillors and the council and formally request the abandonment of the planned road and bridge. More information can be had by visiting www.stopthisroad.com.

Cllr Keith Martin taking up the petition