INHFA president Colm O'Donnell made his organisation's position on compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) very clear at a meeting at the Foilmore Community Centre in Kerry during the week.
“Our position is that we are against compulsory purchase orders full stop. As an organisation it is a red light issue for us. Compulsory purchase orders are not the way to treat farmers or individuals in the community and it is heavy handed at the very least," he said.
Solution required
O'Donnell reiterated the point that some solution has to be found, because there is a lot of good in Greenways and they bring much-needed revenue to local communities, but there has got to be some co-operation there.
"It’s heavy handed at the very least. There is a lot of good, but there has to be some co-operation there between landowners and authorities."
Concerns
There was concern from the INHFA officers present about a precedent being set with the South Kerry Greenway that may affect other similar projects around the country.
The use of CPOs for recreational purposes was a worry for the organisation. Many landowners have existing permissive access agreements in place and the fear is that if a CPO is implemented on the South Kerry Greenway, the same method could be used on existing recreational walks where agreements are in place with landowners.
This was made clear by John Moran, a Mayo farmer with land on the Great Western Greenway. He also has land involved in a looped walk, for which he has given permissive access to walkers.
"If they get the chance to CPO this Greenway, they'll CPO me for my walks and every single thing in the future. They will CPO us all. On the Greenway at home it's permissive access. That’s the power we have. Unless ye have some form of power as landowners, ye are wasting ye're time."
John Moran speaking at the INHFA meeting in Foilmore, Co Kerry. Seated left to right: Gerry Loftus INHFA forestry spokesperson; Mary Rooney chair of Leitrim/west Cavan; and Colm O'Donnell, national president of INHFA.
He added that it was important for the authorities developing the Greenway to engage with landowners.
"They have to come out, meet and talk to landowners and if they don’t talk to you, it can't work."
Smile across the gate
Moran told the meeting that one of the aspects of permissive access important to hill walkers was landowner buy-in.
"The key thing that they talk about is the smile across the gate, which is important to walkers. But if they don't come to me, talk to me and get me on their side. I won’t have that smile. Goodwill is key on the success of the Greenways."
Read more
Greenway consternation continues
Kerry County Council to push ahead with greenway CPOs
INHFA president Colm O'Donnell made his organisation's position on compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) very clear at a meeting at the Foilmore Community Centre in Kerry during the week.
“Our position is that we are against compulsory purchase orders full stop. As an organisation it is a red light issue for us. Compulsory purchase orders are not the way to treat farmers or individuals in the community and it is heavy handed at the very least," he said.
Solution required
O'Donnell reiterated the point that some solution has to be found, because there is a lot of good in Greenways and they bring much-needed revenue to local communities, but there has got to be some co-operation there.
"It’s heavy handed at the very least. There is a lot of good, but there has to be some co-operation there between landowners and authorities."
Concerns
There was concern from the INHFA officers present about a precedent being set with the South Kerry Greenway that may affect other similar projects around the country.
The use of CPOs for recreational purposes was a worry for the organisation. Many landowners have existing permissive access agreements in place and the fear is that if a CPO is implemented on the South Kerry Greenway, the same method could be used on existing recreational walks where agreements are in place with landowners.
This was made clear by John Moran, a Mayo farmer with land on the Great Western Greenway. He also has land involved in a looped walk, for which he has given permissive access to walkers.
"If they get the chance to CPO this Greenway, they'll CPO me for my walks and every single thing in the future. They will CPO us all. On the Greenway at home it's permissive access. That’s the power we have. Unless ye have some form of power as landowners, ye are wasting ye're time."
John Moran speaking at the INHFA meeting in Foilmore, Co Kerry. Seated left to right: Gerry Loftus INHFA forestry spokesperson; Mary Rooney chair of Leitrim/west Cavan; and Colm O'Donnell, national president of INHFA.
He added that it was important for the authorities developing the Greenway to engage with landowners.
"They have to come out, meet and talk to landowners and if they don’t talk to you, it can't work."
Smile across the gate
Moran told the meeting that one of the aspects of permissive access important to hill walkers was landowner buy-in.
"The key thing that they talk about is the smile across the gate, which is important to walkers. But if they don't come to me, talk to me and get me on their side. I won’t have that smile. Goodwill is key on the success of the Greenways."
Read more
Greenway consternation continues
Kerry County Council to push ahead with greenway CPOs
SHARING OPTIONS