Dungarvan is celebrating the success of a new Active Travel scheme which has transformed how local people go about their daily journeys.
The Tournore Permeability Scheme, developed by the Active Travel team at Waterford City and County Council, has bridged a gap between the Tournore housing development area and the Clonea Road and adjacent Waterford Greenway.
The new pathway benefits residents of Tournore Court, Tournore Park and White Strand housing estates, offering safer and more convenient access to local shops, schools and other services including a new bus stop being installed on the Clonea Road, and the Waterford Greenway.
As a result, the scheme has inspired a shift toward Active Travel in the area.
Residents have reported a noticeable increase in social interaction as people enjoy walking and cycling along the route.
"We're seeing from talking to residents that it has brought a social benefit. People are now using the pathway, meeting new faces and they're interacting with each other," Dylan White, Active Travel Communications and Behavioural Change Officer at Waterford City and County Council said.
Parents can be seen walking their children to Sesame Early Years Specialist Day Service, located adjacent to the pathway, enjoying the ease and safety the new route provides.
"On a recent visit to the estate in Tournore, we met received very positive feedback. It's now a lot more convenient and safer for them to walk to work, the shops, the post office, nearby schools and the Greenway on a regular basis."
As part of the scheme, accommodation works including upgraded junctions, enhancement works to the footpaths and the amenity area, and new street lighting have made the area more attractive and inviting.
"We're focused on giving people an alternative to driving because a lot of people who sit in traffic every day want to walk and cycle."
The Active Travel Communications and Behavioural Change Officer says that the development will be great during the Spring to Autumn months.
"As you see the evenings getting a bit longer and with better weather, it's a great opportunity for people to choose walking, cycling or wheeling."
"It's good for your health. Research shows walking or cycling can actually help mitigate against or manage long term health conditions."
Mr White says that schemes like the Tournore Permeability Scheme have a positive impact from a green perspective.
"By taking more cars off the road, we are reducing traffic congestion. There's a lot of people sitting in cars every day and it's great to give them the alternative of getting out and getting healthier. And it's cheaper as well. But it's also very beneficial in terms of reducing our carbon footprint."
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