The proposed Cork to Kinsale Greenway project is failing to meet the greenway code of practice and it does not have adequate community support, Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) Munster regional chair Conor O’Leary has said, following a high-level meeting between the IFA and Cork County Council on the matter.

Delegates that attended the meeting included a number of IFA chairs, as well as infrastructural advisor to the IFA and impacted landowners along the proposed Greenway route.

Currently, Cork Country Council cannot find a way to develop the full project end-to-end and are proposing to divide the greenway into three different sections.

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“This approach is incompatible with the consultation process undertaken with the public to date and is not in line with the greenway code of practice,” O’Leary said.

The Council has said that they will be publishing the public consultation report in the coming weeks and that they will engage with individual landowners along only some sections the preferred route.

The IFA called on the Council to go back to the drawing board as the proposed greenway is not fit for purpose, fails to meet the greenway code of practice and the Government strategy on greenways and lacks the required community support.

“It is not acceptable that the Council is attempting to change the rules in the process, resulting in new pressures and isolation of landowners on certain sections along the entire route,” O’Leary stated.

Opposition

60% of 2000 respondents expressed their opposition to the greenway during public consultation number three last year, with the main points of opposition being the impact of the greenway on private property and farmland, loss of privacy, security concerns, fears of anti-social behaviour, environmental concerns and poor value for money for taxpayers.

Cork City Council must acknowledge that the proposed route is completely inappropriate, IFA infrastructure chair Paul O’Brien has said.

“They are attempting to impose a greenway on predominantly private property and farmland and without adequate public or state-owned lands, this creates major challenges,” O’Brien outlined.

“This project has created widespread opposition, division and severe upset in local communities. A greenway has to have the support of the local community and it’s clear from the public consultations and the meetings that have taken place that this is not the case.”

During the meeting, the IFA made it clear that it is opposed to any severance of farms or compulsory purchase orders for amenity projects like greenways.

O’Brien pointed out that in some areas of the proposed greenway it follows the route of an old, abandoned railway track, however this railway track is now part of private farmland and is actively farmed, making it unsuitable for a greenway.

“The engagement with the Council is very important and provided IFA with the opportunity to clearly outline all of the concerns and issues of farmers and landowners,” John Murphy IFA environment committee chair stated.