Council to CPO land for Ring of Kerry road project

KERRY County Council is attempting to acquire almost 30 acres of land on the Ring of Kerry road by compulsory order – including three parcels of land owned by famed hotelier Francis Brennan.

In the December 11 edition of The Kerryman, the council outlined that it wants to acquire 169 parcels of land from 45 landowners, to progress the N70 Sneem to Blackwater Bridge project between the townlands of Doon and Ankail. The CPO also seeks to extinguish one right-of-way.

The project involves on-line widening of 4.5 kilometres of the N70 to provide a single-carriageway road with a shared-use cycle and pedestrian facility. The section in question crosses the Kerry Way route in Tahilla, and the council said it aims to provide a road ‘fit for purpose’ for all road users. Kerry County Council told The Kerryman that design and planning ran from 2014 to 2019. A public consultation took place on April 27, 2017.

“Informal consultation has also been undertaken with effected landowners and interested parties during the planning and design phases,” the council said.

An Environmental Impact Assessment Report and Natura Impact Statement have been prepared, and are available to view online at www.kerrycoco.ie or at council buildings in Tralee, Castleisland, and Kenmare.

Members of the public will have until February 7, 2020, to submit objections to An Bord Pleanála, who can confirm, confirm with modifications, or reject the CPO.

Should the process clear all potential obstacles, construction could start in 2021 and will last roughly 18 months.