North Kerry farmers join fight against CPOs
NORTH Kerry farmers and landowners have rowed in behind their south Kerry counterparts to voice their anger at the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) of lands for the South Kerry Greenway.
On Tuesday afternoon the IFA led a protest outside Kerry County Council buildings in Tralee, which was attended by farmers from across the country. They claim the CPO plans go against the newly launched Government greenway strategy.
The IFA is calling for dialogue with landowners instead of what it claims are “heavy handed” tactics used by the local authority.
“We are here today to support the south Kerry farmers who are facing a CPO for their land,” said protester Kenneth O’Connell from Lixnaw.
“There is talk about a greenway down the line in north Kerry and I am not in favour of undertaking a CPO of the land. What they are doing is not conducive to the project. They should consult the farmers and ask them what is the way to go,” he said.
Meanwhile, Eamon McElligott, also from Lixnaw called for a “common sense” approach.
A NUMBER of farmers in South Kerry say they will fight to the highest courts in Ireland and Europe, in a bid to prevent their lands being subjected to a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) for the South Kerry Greenway project.
They were speaking during an IFA led protest held outside council headquarters on Tuesday afternoon.
The south Kerry farmers were joined by their counterparts from across the country as almost 150 farmers voiced their concerns at plans by Kerry County Council to acquire the land for the project by CPO.
The IFA says that there have been little meaningful negotiations with farmers and the organisation has called on the local authority to halt the CPO process and open dialogue with farmers along the route. Up to 170 landowners are affected in total.
Up to 50 landowners, the majority farmers, are opposed to the project, it has been claimed and CPO opponents say that there are 32 people currently in a local group set up to oppose the process.
The message from landowners on Tuesday was that they are not against the greenway but are opposed to use of the CPOs to acquire the land. They want to negotiate with the council on the best route to take.
Michael O’Sullivan from Foilmore, who owns some of the railway line, says that the council is seeking some of this land for the route, though not the actual land on the former railway route.
He wants the greenway route to go around his fields but the council have refused this option, he claims.
“They are not listening to use and they are not consulting with us.”
Michael Sheehy from Renard will be faced with the greenway running right in front of his house, he claims. Again, he says the council won’t listen to other alternatives including using a nearby local road. “They don’t negotiate. They just tell you.”
The IFA has said it will stand firm and fight. “The message is we want Kerry County Council to adopt the guidelines in the strategy, appoint an agronomist and listen to farmers,” said IFA Environmental Chairman Thomas Cooney.
Kerry County Council said in statement that the local authority has spent two years negotiating with landowners but was unable to get an agreement
“There was detailed, lengthy and comprehensive engagement with approximately 170 landowners. As it was not possible to acquire the land by negotiation, the council decided to acquire the land by CPO
“Kerry County Council has met with IFA representatives on a number of occasions and will do so again,” the council statement added.