The legitimate concerns of the 170 or so affected landowners along the South Kerry Greenway route are not being addressed, Kerry IFA chairman, Patrick O’Driscoll has said.

Landowners in the county are concerned that their land will be cut in half or partly severed. Issues have also arisen in relation to security and privacy.

O’Driscoll said that access to homes and farms is being dissected by the planned route.

IFA is opposed to CPOs and the majority of farmers are for the Greenway, but when the issue of CPOs came up that support effectively went out the window, he said.

“Most people are in favour of the Greenway, they just don’t want a CPO. The landowners have legitimate concerns that aren’t being addressed.”

This week the Minister for Tourism, Shane Ross, visited the county with TD Michael Healy-Rae and met with a number of groups in the county who have concerns about the Greenway.

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal Healy-Rae said that the Minister listened to the concerns the affected landowners along the Greenway have.

“The farmers who have concerns, in my opinion, are honourable people who aren’t saying no to the Greenway, but they have concerns about sections [of the route].”

Background

The South Kerry Greenway is to run along a 32km stretch from Glenbeigh to Renard in the county.

Due to the size of the project, the nature of the landscape (some parts are ecologically sensitive and protected) and objections from landowners, work on the Greenway has stalled for the moment, with Kerry County Council now having to carry out an environmental impact study on the route.

An Bord Pleanála has ruled that the council must carry out the assessment.

Meanwhile, the council’s decision to acquire the land by CPO, led to landowners objecting, some citing that they had not been consulted properly with. A decision on whether the council will acquire the lands through CPO is expected from An Bord Pleanála in the new few months.