European Sites wholly or partially within the 4km NCN Proposed Corridor
Consideration of potential impacts
Mitigation approach for Corridor
impacts, and air quality impacts (if construction was required) could arise if the final route ran within 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
is required for a cycle route. In such a situation wintering bird surveys to 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. The approach to delivering the crossing of the Unshin River should be as follows: 1. Where feasible the crossing will be made using existing road bridges; 2. Where engineering works to a road bridge would be required to render it suitable, any permanent works must remain out of the water column, unless it can be demonstrated this would not affect site integrity, and must not hinder potential for otter passage along the riverbanks. If any temporary ‘in river’ works were to be necessary, studies (including but not limited to underwater noise and hydrodynamic studies), and potentially mitigation, would be required to ensure the works could be delivered without an adverse effect on the SAC habitats or salmon population; 3. If a new bridge crossing the Unshin River SAC is required, the following general requirements must be followed in designing and assessing the structure: a. Any abutments must be located outside the SAC boundary and/or must involve no loss of qualifying SAC habitat; b. Any abutments must be located outside the river channel and must be set sufficiently far back from the bank top to ensure passage of otter along the banks is not prevented; c. The soffit of the bridge should be sufficiently high that significant shading impacts on the water column and in river vegetation will not arise. Research suggests this would require a soffit height: deck width ratio of 0.7 or above. d. A noise impact assessment of bridge construction regarding salmon and otter will be required, and potentially mitigation (such as seasonal restrictions on working, alternative construction methods or noise control techniques) to ensure no significant effect on the population of either species. e. Water quality protection measures will be required as well as a hydrological study to confirm any new construction would not affect special interest features that are hydrologically sensitive (e.g. alluvial woodland).
Corridor Number and Name
European Sites wholly or partially within the 4km NCN Proposed Corridor
Consideration of potential impacts
Mitigation approach for Corridor
methods). Parts of the 4km corridor within which the final cycle route will be located lie within 2km of Ballykenny- Fisherstown Bog SPA, Ballysadare Bay SPA, Lough Arrow SPA and Cummeen Strand SPA. Since these sites are 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-
f. Lighting should be avoided in areas that are currently unlit unless it can be demonstrated that there would be no adverse effect on site integrity. If detailed design work indicates that a new crossing of the Unshin River is required but it is not possible to deliver such a crossing over the SAC without an adverse effect on site integrity, the Corridor should be revised (such as to not to connect to Sligo) to demonstrate no adverse effect on site integrity.
Corridor Number and Name
European Sites wholly or partially within the 4km NCN Proposed Corridor
Consideration of potential impacts
Mitigation approach for Corridor
linked land for SPA birds outside the SPA boundary. At Ballisodare and again at Collooney the entire 4km corridor traverses the Unshin River SAC. The SAC is designated for its water courses of plain to montane levels with the Ranunculion fluitantis and Callitricho- Batrachion vegetation, its semi-natural dry grasslands and scrubland facies on calcareous substrates (* important orchid sites), its
Corridor Number and Name
European Sites wholly or partially within the 4km NCN Proposed Corridor
Consideration of potential impacts
Mitigation approach for Corridor
Molinia meadows on calcareous, peaty or clayey- silt-laden soils, its alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior and its populations of salmon and otter. It would not be possible to make the connection to Sligo from the south without crossing the Unshin River SAC due to the length of the river.
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Sligo to Ballina
Ox Mountains Bogs SAC,Lough Nabrickkeagh Bog SAC,Lough Gill SAC,River Moy SAC,Cummeen Strand/Drumcliff Bay (Sligo Bay) SAC,Ballysadare Bay SAC,Unshin
Parts of the 4km corridor within which the final cycle route will be
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