NEW ROSS Town Council is working towards a submission for funding to develop a walking trail around the town with the disused railway line’s ‘red bridge’ route being a preferred option.

At a recent meeting of the local authority Town Clerk, Anthony Bailey, informed the members in his report that an application relating to the proposal will be submitted to Wexford Local Development Ltd.

The ‘Red bridge Walkway’ will be one aspect of the funding application while village renewal will form another component of the submission.

“Both of the above streams will require financial co-funding from community partners,” said Mr. Bailey.

He also made reference to his predecessor, Ger Mackey, who he said, in his role with the JFK50 plans, will “progress his work do-date” with the am of securing funds for that project through the WLD application.

The members were also presented with the booklet, ‘New Ross Active Travel Towns – Walking and Cycling Strategy’, which contained details of a study carried out on the red bridge.

That report revealed the bridge is in ‘reasonable condition’ given that it has not been maintained for many years. Significantly, the report also suggested that the potential re-development of the bridge for amenity use ‘appears to be feasible’.

(For full story see this week’s print edition of The Echo)