Plans to develop the Arklow marsh into a local amenity with walking trails and boardwalks have hit a brick wall because campaigners cannot secure right-of-way access to the wetlands.
Right-of-way through the grounds of a family-owned premises on Ferrybank was denied but local volunteers and councillors are working to find a solution.
Access through the grounds of the former derelict house on the Bridgewater roundabout has also been dismissed because there is a canal in the way and a footbridge would have to be built.
Arklow Town Council has allocated €50,000 towards the cost of developing the marsh and a public meeting will be arranged in the coming months to discuss how to take the plans forward.
When completed, the marsh trail will have 3km of walking path incorporating the existing Shelton Avenue paths which pass through the woodlands towards the bypass.
The remaining part of the old railway bed that was used to bring ore from the Avoca Mines to the port of Arklow in the nineteenth century will also be used.
