European Sites wholly or partially within the 4km NCN Proposed Corridor
Consideration of potential impacts
Mitigation approach for Corridor
200m of a European site, these impacts are avoidable through either routing decisions or decisions regarding how the relevant sections of cycle route will be created (e.g. utilising existing infrastructure rather than creating new infrastructure in the most constrained sections, or using standard mitigation methods). Parts of the 4km corridor lie within 2km of Lough Oughter SPA. Since this site is
determine use of the habitats by SPA birds may be required and, if necessary, appropriate mitigation provided to ensure no adverse effect on the integrity of the European site before the works are consented.
Corridor Number and Name
European Sites wholly or partially within the 4km NCN Proposed Corridor
Consideration of potential impacts
Mitigation approach for Corridor
designated for mobile species that may make use of habitat outside the SPA boundary there is potential for any new cycle route construction in this location to affect functionally- linked land for SPA birds outside the SPA boundary.
8
Longford to Sligo
Lough Gill SAC,Cummeen Strand/Drumcliff Bay (Sligo Bay) SAC,Clooneen Bog SAC,Ballysadare Bay SAC,Lough Arrow SAC,Unshin River SAC,Bricklieve Mountains and Keishcorran SAC,Union Wood SAC,Lough Forbes Complex SAC,Ballykenny-Fisherstown Bog SPA,Ballysadare Bay SPA,Lough Arrow SPA,Cummeen Strand SPA
For the most part, the 4km corridor is sufficiently wide that direct impacts on any European sites can be avoided if necessary. Therefore, while noise and visual disturbance
The final route alignment should avoid any new construction within 200m of any European sites as a first preference. Where European sites are to be traversed existing roads and bridges should be used to carry the cycle route where feasible and there should be no new lighting introduced in areas that are currently unlit unless it can be demonstrated that there would be no adverse effect on site integrity. If any new construction within 200m is needed to create the cycle route a noise and air quality assessment (and potentially noise and air quality mitigation) will be required to ensure there is no construction-related disturbance that could significantly affect SPA birds or significant air pollution impacts on sensitive habitats. Parts of the 4km corridor lies within 2km of several SPAs. There will therefore need to be consideration of any potential for loss of functionally-linked habitat for SPA birds once the actual cycle route is determined. This will only be required if new construction is required within natural habitats and loss of habitat is greater than trivial; this is relevant because very little land