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Up to 60 farmers and concerned residents blockaded the headquarters of the motorway construction firm BAM, in Kill, Co Kildare, today.
Tensions have reached breaking point as the construction firm has indicated it will close a local road in Cooladine, Co Wexford, during August, which will prevent farmers accessing a central grain intake during peak harvest season.
The IFA-led protest commenced from 6.45am and ran until 10.30am, with organisers indicating that this may be the first of many demonstrations if BAM is not willing to deal fairly with concerned farmers.
Major road works are inevitably disruptive, but the attitude being displayed by BAM representatives to farmers and residents seems to have exacerbated the problems that are arising pic.twitter.com/VyNFLCFEn4
— Pat O Toole (@potooleifj) July 13, 2018
Relations have become strained between both negotiating parties, with south Leinster IFA chair Tom Short stating that IFA representatives were “verbally abused”, at a meeting on Wednesday, 11 July.
The local road in question is currently used by BAM to carry construction material to work on the nearby M11 upgrade.
It’s understood that local residents and farmers received a written undertaking from BAM to repair the wear and tear on the road from heavy use by May this year.
However, the repairs failed to take place and farmers have indicated that they now have a lack of faith in the firm to carry out any repairs in a timely manner before peak harvest season when the road will be required.
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