IFA Meet Cork County Council on Cork to Kinsale Greenway

Following a high-level meeting between the IFA and Cork County Council on the proposed Cork to Kinsale Greenway project, IFA Munster Regional Chair Conor O’Leary said it is now becoming apparent that this project is seriously struggling because it is failing to meet the Greenway Code of Practice and it does not have adequate community support.

Cork County Council is now proposing to divide the proposed Greenway into three different sections because they cannot find a way to develop the full project end-to- end and have placed a section in abeyance. “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,” according to Conor O’Leary.

The Council outlined that they will be publishing the public consultation report in the coming weeks and it is their intention to engage with individual landowners along only some sections the preferred route.

The IFA called on the Council to go back to the drawing board and recognise that the proposed Cork to Kinsale Greenway is not fit for purpose; fails to meet the Greenway code and Government strategy on Greenways; and lacks the necessary 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.”

Based on the public consultation number three undertaken last year, 60% of 2,000 respondents outlined their opposition to the Greenway. The main points of opposition included 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.

IFA Infrastructure Chair Paul O’Brien said Cork County Council need to recognise that the proposed route is totally unsuitable for a Greenway project. “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.”

“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.”

IFA made it very clear to the Council that IFA is opposed to any severance of farms or compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) for amenity projects like Greenways.

He said that some parts of the proposed Greenway route follow the old, abandoned railway line. However, Paul O’Brien pointed out that this abandoned railway is now part of private farmland, is actively farmed, and includes roadways and farmyards. He said such a route is totally unsuitable for a Greenway.

John Murphy said the engagement with the Council was professional and frank. “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”.

The IFA delegation that met with Cork County Council included Conor O’Leary IFA Munster Regional Chair, Paul O’Brien IFA Infrastructure Chair, John Murphy IFA Environment Committee Chair, Matt Hurley IFA Cork Central Chair, Kevin Kinsella infrastructural advisor to the IFA and a number of the impacted landowners along the proposed Greenway route.