The Comber Greenway
Encyclopedia
The Comber Greenway is a 7 miles (11.3 km) traffic-free section of the National Cycle Network
, in development along the old Belfast-Comber railway line. The cycle path
starts on Dee Street in Belfast
and finishes at Comber
. Now completed the Greenway provides an eco-friendly cycle path with views of Stormont and Scrabo Tower
. The most recent addition to the route was in November 2008 when the final link between Old Dundonald Road/Comber Rd junction and Comber was opened. This added 2.5 km (1.6 mi) to the route. One section runs through a SLNCI-designated Wetland ecosystem.
statue at the Holywood Arches, along the Bloomfield Walkway to Sandown Road where it continues past the PSNI headquarters to a newly installed toucan crossing at the Knock Road.
From here it travels up to the Kings Road, where the Kings Road Scooter Club hail from, and onwards to Abbey Road, through Tullycarnet and Ardcarn to East Link Road in Dundonald
.
It continues through a wetland area emerging at the Comber Road, Dundonald where a toucan crossing has been installed.
The route continues from Comber Road, Dundonald past the Billy Neill Centre for Soccer Excellence where the former railway line runs near to the Enler River. Walkers and cyclists can cross the River Enler and farm lanes using a series of reinstated bridges before reaching the final destination at the Belfast Road, Comber.
On the way out of Belfast
, the Greenway goes through many of the old Belfast and County Down Railway
stations i.e. Bloomfield, Neill's Hill
, Knock, Dundonald before finishing just short of Comber station.
. The railway was in use from 1850's to 1950 when it was permanently retired. Throughout the 1950s the track was lifted in stages and infrastructure, including bridges, removed. The remains of Neill's Hill station can still be seen near Sandown Road behind Clara Park and Sandhill Gardens.
In 1964 it was proposed that a section of the Greenway be utilised for the Belfast Urban Motorway project. This particular section was not constructed but the plan eventually let to the construction of the Westlink and much of today's existing motorway infrastructure.
By late in the century the Greenway had become a recreation path for walkers, cyclists etc. In 2003/4 the Knock Valley Relief Sewer was installed from Ballymacarett to Dundonald resulting in substantial excavation along the path. Subsequently a number of government agencies contributed funds to upgrade the Greenway with a modern hard surface, road crossings and a with the opening of the section alongside Police Headquarters, a continuous route from inner Belfast to Comber. It was officially opened on 8th Nov 2008.
, proposed utilising the Greenway for either a light rail or bus link for Belfast.
Atkins KPMG subsequently completed a preliminary assessment of the proposals. Key conclusions include the preference for bus over light rail on cost grounds and the construction of much of the route along the Greeenway.
Political support is behind the rapid transport concept although the EWAY route is contentious. An active campaign group has formed to protect the Greenway calling for relocation of the EWAY route onto the Upper Newtownards Road and increased public consultation. http://www.combergreenway.co.uk
An announcement by the BBC confirmed that the EWAY will not be using the The Comber Greenway
as part of it's route.
National Cycle Network
The National Cycle Network is a network of cycle routes in the United Kingdom.The National Cycle Network was created by the charity Sustrans , and aided by a £42.5 million National Lottery grant. In 2005 it was used for over 230 million trips.Many routes hope to minimise contact with motor...
, in development along the old Belfast-Comber railway line. The cycle path
Rail trail
A rail trail is the conversion of a disused railway easement into a multi-use path, typically for walking, cycling and sometimes horse riding. The characteristics of former tracks—flat, long, frequently running through historical areas—are appealing for various development. The term sometimes also...
starts on Dee Street in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
and finishes at Comber
Comber
Comber is a small town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies 5 miles south of Newtownards, at the northern end of Strangford Lough. It had a population of 8,933 people in the 2001 Census. Comber is part of the Borough of Ards...
. Now completed the Greenway provides an eco-friendly cycle path with views of Stormont and Scrabo Tower
Scrabo Tower
Scrabo Tower is located to the west of Newtownards in County Down, Northern Ireland.The landmark, which is visible from most of north Down, was built on a volcanic plug above the town in 1857 as a memorial to Charles Stewart, 3rd Marquess of Londonderry who was one of the Duke of Wellington's...
. The most recent addition to the route was in November 2008 when the final link between Old Dundonald Road/Comber Rd junction and Comber was opened. This added 2.5 km (1.6 mi) to the route. One section runs through a SLNCI-designated Wetland ecosystem.
Route
The traffic free route begins at Dee Street in East Belfast and passes by the C. S. LewisC. S. Lewis
Clive Staples Lewis , commonly referred to as C. S. Lewis and known to his friends and family as "Jack", was a novelist, academic, medievalist, literary critic, essayist, lay theologian and Christian apologist from Belfast, Ireland...
statue at the Holywood Arches, along the Bloomfield Walkway to Sandown Road where it continues past the PSNI headquarters to a newly installed toucan crossing at the Knock Road.
From here it travels up to the Kings Road, where the Kings Road Scooter Club hail from, and onwards to Abbey Road, through Tullycarnet and Ardcarn to East Link Road in Dundonald
Dundonald
Dundonald is a large settlement in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies east of Belfast and is often deemed to be a suburb of the city. It includes the large housing estate of Ballybeen, and many new housing estates have emerged in the past ten years....
.
It continues through a wetland area emerging at the Comber Road, Dundonald where a toucan crossing has been installed.
The route continues from Comber Road, Dundonald past the Billy Neill Centre for Soccer Excellence where the former railway line runs near to the Enler River. Walkers and cyclists can cross the River Enler and farm lanes using a series of reinstated bridges before reaching the final destination at the Belfast Road, Comber.
On the way out of Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, the Greenway goes through many of the old Belfast and County Down Railway
Belfast and County Down Railway
The Belfast and County Down Railway was an Irish gauge railway in Ireland linking Belfast with County Down. It was built in the 19th century and absorbed into the Ulster Transport Authority in 1948...
stations i.e. Bloomfield, Neill's Hill
Neill's Hill railway station
Neill's Hill railway station is a disused railway station / halt on the main line of the Belfast and County Down Railway. It ran from Queen's Quay, Belfast south to Newcastle, County Down in Northern Ireland....
, Knock, Dundonald before finishing just short of Comber station.
History
The current route of the Greenway was originally used as the route for the Belfast and County Down RailwayBelfast and County Down Railway
The Belfast and County Down Railway was an Irish gauge railway in Ireland linking Belfast with County Down. It was built in the 19th century and absorbed into the Ulster Transport Authority in 1948...
. The railway was in use from 1850's to 1950 when it was permanently retired. Throughout the 1950s the track was lifted in stages and infrastructure, including bridges, removed. The remains of Neill's Hill station can still be seen near Sandown Road behind Clara Park and Sandhill Gardens.
In 1964 it was proposed that a section of the Greenway be utilised for the Belfast Urban Motorway project. This particular section was not constructed but the plan eventually let to the construction of the Westlink and much of today's existing motorway infrastructure.
By late in the century the Greenway had become a recreation path for walkers, cyclists etc. In 2003/4 the Knock Valley Relief Sewer was installed from Ballymacarett to Dundonald resulting in substantial excavation along the path. Subsequently a number of government agencies contributed funds to upgrade the Greenway with a modern hard surface, road crossings and a with the opening of the section alongside Police Headquarters, a continuous route from inner Belfast to Comber. It was officially opened on 8th Nov 2008.
Threat
As part of the Belfast Metropolitan Transport Plan 2015 published in November 2004, a rapid transport scheme was proposed for three routes in Belfast. The route to the east of the city, dubbed EWAYEWAY
The EWAY is a light rail or bus system proposed for East Belfast, Northern Ireland.In January 2007, then Regional Development Minister in Northern Ireland, David Cairns, announced that engineering consultants WS Atkins PLC were to undertake economic feasibility studies on rapid transit proposals...
, proposed utilising the Greenway for either a light rail or bus link for Belfast.
Atkins KPMG subsequently completed a preliminary assessment of the proposals. Key conclusions include the preference for bus over light rail on cost grounds and the construction of much of the route along the Greeenway.
Political support is behind the rapid transport concept although the EWAY route is contentious. An active campaign group has formed to protect the Greenway calling for relocation of the EWAY route onto the Upper Newtownards Road and increased public consultation. http://www.combergreenway.co.uk
An announcement by the BBC confirmed that the EWAY will not be using the The Comber Greenway
The Comber Greenway
The Comber Greenway is a traffic-free section of the National Cycle Network, in development along the old Belfast-Comber railway line. The cycle path starts on Dee Street in Belfast and finishes at Comber. Now completed the Greenway provides an eco-friendly cycle path with views of Stormont and...
as part of it's route.
External links
- Greenway to Stay Campaign
- The Comber Greenway at Sustrans
- Belfast Metropolitan Transport Plan 2015 at DRD
- The Comber Greenway at Cycle NI