Kilkenny farmer Shane Phelan is refusing to accept a designation of “urban agriculture” on his farmland. Phelan was one of a small group of farmers whose land in and around Kilkenny city was placed on the vacant site register in 2018. Some but not all of those lands have now been given this new designation.

“Based on my past experience with the county council, I have every reason to be concerned,” says Phelan.

“The vacant site register in Kilkenny city was badly constructed and deeply unfair.”

The farmland was eventually removed following a campaign by the affected farmers.

“Semi-constructed and fully serviced sites with current or lapsed planning were not on the register, while actively farmed family farm land was included. It made no sense and still doesn’t,” says Phelan.

“My understanding is that under this designation, I wouldn’t be able to build a house on my own land to live in,” says Phelan. “A couple of years ago, they wanted to force me to sell my land so developers could fill it with houses. Why else would they have stuck it on the vacant site register? There’s no logic there.

Phelan has said he doesn’t trust Kilkenny County Council. “Local authorities are chancing their arms, trying to undermine the land ownership rights of farmers. Thankfully, the courts still uphold the constitution and the law,” adds Phelan, in reference to the decision against Cork County Council in favour of Midleton farmer Alan Navratil in the High Court last year.