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The use of compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) on the South Kerry Greenway has become a source of consternation between Kerry farmers and the county council.
Some 197 landowners will be affected by CPOs along the planned 32km route on the disused Great Southern Railway line.
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Farmers have staged protests and remain resistant to the planned route, saying land fragmentation will be inevitable and alternative route suggestions have been completely overlooked by the council.
Morgan Lyne, Kells, Co Kerry
“I would love to see the Greenway going ahead, it would be a good project for south Kerry, but it has to have the goodwill of the landowners.
“The council never had one big meeting, but only held local meetings. It seemed to be trying to play us off each other, saying the boys in Glenbeigh are happy out so what’s the problem with you in Kells?”
Christy McDonnell, Foilmore, Co Kerry
“The CPO is affecting around 800m of my land. It’s not the volume of land, it’s the fact that it’s affecting my silage ground.
“We’ve offered Kerry County Council three alternative routes.
I also asked them if they’d put in a tunnel for the cyclists and leave my ground overhead, but they said spending €15,000 on a tunnel wouldn’t be viable.”
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