A group of around 30 Comber residents came together to enjoy a gentle summer cycle on the new Comber Greenway in an event organised by sustainable transport charity, Sustrans, to celebrate Bike Week (16-24 June) and Sustrans’ 30th birthday.
The cyclists assembled in Comber Square before cycling through the town and along the Comber Greenway that currently extends as far as the Ballyrainey Road. Lough and Land Programme Manager Claire Pollock gave a brief talk on the background of the Greenway, the works progress to date and the plans for the coming year.
The project is due to be completed by September 2008 and will run for a total of 7 miles from Comber to the heart of urban Belfast. The traffic-free walking and cycling route runs along the line of the disused Belfast to Comber railway, and is ideal for family day trips, as well as providing a pleasant route for commuters travelling to work in Dundonald, East Belfast and Belfast city centre.
Co-ordinated by Sustrans, the Comber Greenway, part of the Lough and Land Programme, will put in place the infrastructure to help develop sustainable tourism activities in County Down; the main element of this programme is the extension of the National Cycle Network in the region.
Speaking in support of the Comber Greenway local resident, Johnny Andrews of Comber Regeneration Group, commented: “It is exciting for the people of comber to see the old railway bed being opened up for use after 55 years of being abandoned.
He continued: “This is a great facility for community use and once complete the Greenway will encourage more visitors to Comber town. I would like to thank Road Service and Sustrans for developing this project which opens up the many cycling possibilities for Comber as the gateway to Strangford Lough."
Sustrans Volunteer and Community Liaison Officer, Patricia Wallace, said: "We are delighted to see local people out everyday enjoying this new section of the Comber Greenway. The project offers Comber residents the opportunity to enjoy their surroundings and future events will be planned on the Greenway. There are many opportunities for local residents to become more involved with the project as Sustrans works with local volunteers to enhance and maintain the Greenway.”
Anyone wishing to learn more or become involved in the Comber Greenway can contact Patricia Wallace at the Sustrans office on 9043 4569 or visit www.combergreenway.org.uk
A major funding contribution of £300,000 was awarded to the Comber Greenway through the EU programme for Building Sustainable Prosperity, administered by the Department for Agriculture and Rural Development. Additional contributions to the project were received from Roads Service, Environment and Heritage Service, Better Belfast, Department of Culture Arts and Leisure, Ards Borough Council, Belfast City Council, Castlereagh Borough Council.
Posted in
Submitted by The Editor on Mon, 2007-06-18 19:18.
