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An escalation of the dispute between Wexford landowners and M11 motorway contractors BAM seems likely this week.
On Monday morning landowners gathered to support the Deacon family in their direct action against M11 motorway developers BAM.
Tensions are running high, as local farmers Noel and Will Kearney, from nearby Ballydaniel, reported that one of their cattle had broken a leg travelling down a laneway that the Kearneys have been demanding BAM make safe for over a year now.
"The laneway provides access to the lower half of the farm," explained equestrian and cattle farmer Will Kearney. "It's slippy and needs either a concrete or a chipped surface. BAM left it with a sleek surface, and the first day I walked one of the horses down it we fell. I haven't brought a horse down it since, and now this. We're trying for over a year to get any action from BAM in fixing it."
Support
There was huge support for the stance taken by the Deacon family of Knockrobin, Ballyoughter in blocking the motorway site when landowners met on Saturday night. Henry Deane told the Irish Farmers Journal this Monday that the blockade remained in place at the same location.
The action by the Deacon family followed months of frustration, with relatively straightforward issues being left unresolved.
The M11 extension sees the motorway extended from Clogh outside Gorey by 27km, bypassing Camolin, Ferns and Enniscorthy en route to Rosslare ferryport.
A further 12km bypass around Enniscorthy links the motorway to the Enniscorthy-New Ross road. In addition, Dutch company BAM are also the contractors for the New Ross bypass, which involves the construction of the longest bridge in Ireland crossing the Barrow en route to Waterford city.
The two contracts are understood to be worth in excess of €600m.
BAM
In that context, the grievances of landowners and homeowners along the route may seem a pittance, but BAM's failure to adequately address these concerns has seen tensions ratchet up, particularly along the northernmost stretch of the project where work is proceeeding towrds a conclusion.
On Saturday evening, a succession of landowners shared their stories at a meeting attended by IFA director general Damian McDonald.
Following the meeting, and ad-hoc committee of landowners was set up.
Wexford IFA chair James Kehoe said that IFA members "would not be found wanting" if direct action is taken by the landowners.
Complaints
The complaints ranged from damaged fencing to drainage works not completed or not in compliance with the agreements committed to by Wexford County Council during the planning stage. Large accumulations of earth have affected natural light for houses and there are allegations of structural damage to both domestic houses and farm buildings.
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