A date in September has been set for a court case between four farmers and Kerry County Council.

The council is seeking approval for “notice to enter” after the farmers objected to granting them permission to survey their land for the 32km South Kerry Greenway.

Planning permission for the proposed greenway is expected to be lodged by the council at the end of this month, with a pre-application meeting with An Bord Pleanála completed on 26 June.

The council hopes that the greenway will provide a boost to tourism in the area but a number of farmers forming the Greenway Action Group have stated that the greenway will cause land fragmentation.

Some 197 landowners will also be affected by a compulsory purchase order (CPO). It is understood that CPOs will be included as part of the planning application.