Cooley Greenway proposals caused ‘stress and disruption to farmers’ – IFA

Farmers along the Cooley Peninsula are very concerned about the proposed greenway in the area, with the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) vowing to oppose compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) and splitting farms.

Speaking following a recent visit to the Cooley Peninsula, IFA president Francie Gorman said there is a lot of apprehension around the proposed Dundalk to Carlingford greenway.

“With a decision due, farmers in Cooley are worried that their farms maybe severed or, even worse, have their lands subject to a CPO,” said Gorman.

The IFA president said his organisation is totally opposed to the use of CPOs for greenways and to the severance of farms for such projects.

It is also very clear that Louth County Council does not have the support of the local community for such measures, he added.

Gorman referenced the Government’s strategy on greenways: “The preferred model for future greenways is to use lands already in undisputed ownership or control of the State.”

This strategy is not being followed by Louth County Council or the greenway consultants, Gorman stated, as they have already said there are no public lands on the route corridor options they are considering.

Step back

Louth IFA county chair Kevin Sweeney said Louth County Council should take a step back and drop its plans for a greenway on predominantly private lands that will rip through the heart of the Cooley Peninsula.

He added that the council is putting at risk the positive relationship developed between landowners and walkers on permissive access to mountain walks in the area over many years.

“This proposal from Louth County Council has caused a lot of stress and disruption to farmers and the wider community on the Cooley Peninsula.

“There are serious questions to be answered about the spending of taxpayers’ money on a project that is not in line with Government strategy and does not have the support of the community,” he stated.

Gorman said the IFA will fully support Louth IFA on the issue and stand with the farmers of Cooley in their opposition to CPOs and the severance of farms.