Majella O’Sullivan

Examines the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) issues for farmers from greenway developments

DRIVING along the coastal route heading south on the Iveragh Peninsula, white posters — intermittently attached to telegraph poles at the side of the road — catch the motorist’s eye.

‘Yes to cycle way, No to CPO’, they proclaim, betraying the unease at which Kerry County Council’s plans have been met by some.

Former Environment Minister Alan Kelly announced the plans to develop the 27km Glenbeigh to Renard South Kerry Greenway, along the old Great Southern & Western railway line in 2014, ringfencing €4m for the project.

Because of resistance from a small number of farmers and landowners, who were concerned about land severance and the potential interference from people using the route, Kerry County Council failed to acquire the land through agreement and has gone down the CPO route.

Currently an environmental impact study (EIS) is being prepared because of the sensitive nature of the landscape and the project’s scale, to be submitted to An Bord Pleanála.

The final route design, from an engineering perspective, has been determined but ecological appraisals are now being completed on this.

Director of Operations with the local authority, Charlie O’Sullivan, said realistically, it will probably be a further six to eight weeks before the EIS is submitted.

He said the council made the decision to go with CPOs about 18 months ago, primarily because it was impossible to get agreement from over 170 landowners along the 27km route.

“Our first priority was to try to get consensus or agreement but that’s impossible when you’re dealing with such a large number and, unfortunately, we did come across difficulties with a small number of landowners — around 10pc,” Mr O’Sullivan said.

“Some of those wouldn’t be hardline objectors but it’s like any major road project, a CPO is the only way to secure the land without delaying the scheme.”

The complexities of designing the route, assessing its impact and acquiring the land are offset by what is a dire need for economic stimulation for the south Kerry region.

“When you look at the other regional towns like Kenmare and Killorglin that have seen population growth between 2006 and 2011, Cahersiveen experienced a population decline of 9.7pc.

“Trying to attract industry and job creation to peripheral areas is extremely challenging and tourism is our biggest industry. South Kerry isn’t stimulating any great job creation like Killarney or Dingle and even Tralee because a lot of the tourists are passing through but not staying.

“Greenways tend to attract visitors that cycle the route and stay in the area while they’re doing it,” Mr O’Sullivan added.

Kells farmer, Morgan Lyne is in favour of the cycle way that traverses his land at three separate locations but insists the council’s use of CPOs has soured goodwill towards the project.

It is now feared these could be challenged legally, which will further delay the greenway.

Mr Lyne understands its importance and with a teenage daughter joining the workforce in a few short years, he’d love if there was something to keep her in the area.

“This is the first greenway they needed a CPO for and the council told us in February 2015 the reason they were going for a CPO was because the money had to be spent and the greenway built by 2016.

“We’re now into the middle of 2017 and the CPO, in my estimation, has put the deadline further out.

“If they had negotiated with the farmers, they would have got agreement a lot sooner,” he said.