A large number of farmers gathered outside council offices in Tralee, Co Kerry, this Tuesday to protest against the council’s attempts to force a greenway through using compulsory purchase orders (CPOs).

Some 197 landowners will be affected by a compulsory purchase order for the 26km Kerry greenway from Glenbeigh to Renard via Cahersiveen, according to Kerry County Council.

Heavy-handed approach

The protest was called by the IFA, which said that the heavy-handed approach of the council flew in the face of the Government's newly launched greenway strategy. The strategy calls for “a consultative and proactive manner with the potentially affected landowners, that is sensitive to their needs, that maximises their support for, and goodwill towards, the proposed greenway”.

IFA deputy president Richard Kennedy told protesters: "We're for greenways but we're here today to lay down a marker that CPOs must not be a part."

He said: "It must be done with goodwill and there's no point in forcing it through with a CPO."

Speaking at the launch of the strategy last Friday, Minister for Transport and Tourism, Shane Ross acknowledged that in the past a lack of sensitivity was shown to the farming community but that this would not be repeated in any future projects.

Consensus among landowners to the protest was: yes to greenways, but no to compulsory land-take. IFA environment chair Thomas Cooney appealed to the council to move back from its threat of CPOs and participate in genuine dialogue with farmers to move the project forward.

Agronomist

During the protest, a letter from Kerry IFA chair Pat O’Driscoll was delivered to Moira Murrell, chief executive of the council. It stated that Kerry IFA recognised the importance the project would play in promoting agri-tourism and economic activity, but the State, acting through the council, could not simply divide farms in two to facilitate a greenway.

It reiterated calls, made as early as 2015, for the appointment of a professional agronomist to liaise with landowners, listen to their genuine concerns and come forward to Kerry County Council with workable solutions.

We want it done by co-design where farmers concerned are heard and listened to

Such an appointment is identified in the new strategy and would occur at no cost to landowners.

The letter concluded with an offer from the IFA to meet with the council to discuss the appointment of an agronomist and listen to any other suggestions to advance the project.

"We want it done by co-design where farmers concerned are heard and listened to; that's what an agronomist will be for," Kennedy said.

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