Greenway concerns of North Cork landowners raised at council level

Landowner engagement and consultation have been called for in the North Cork area in relation to proposals for the Mallow to Dungarvan Greenway.

Several councillors voiced the concerns expressed by landowners in relation to the project at Monday’s meeting of the Northern Divisional Committee.

Councillor Frank Roche stated that his ‘head is fried’ from the issue, having received repeated representations on the matter from landowners who expect to be affected by the proposed development.

“We’re going to have fierce problems because the farmers are telling me that they’re not consulted, they haven’t got letters. They’re very upset about the whole greenway area and I do think that we want to give it very serious consideration and we would want to make more contact with those farmers,” Cllr Roche stated.

According to Cllr Deirdre O’Brien, many landowners are fearful for ‘their livelihoods and their houses’ as she too called for reassurances and engagement on the matter.

Cllr Frank O’Flynn outlined that some farmers on the proposed route have claimed that if the development goes through their land, they will be out of business.

“I am getting a lot of concerns back from the landowners. It’s a highly intensive area.

There’s quite a lot of concern as well that farms will actually be split,” he said.

While speaking at the meeting on Monday, Fermoy councillor Noel McCarthy outlined the ‘disappointment’ expressed locally due to an alleged lack of consultation.

NOW A PRIORITY

Director of Roads and Transportation with Cork County Council, Padraig Barrett, confirmed that all landowners affected will be contacted and met with over the coming months.

“There was no lack of engagement and no surprises here. We could not meet with people until the scheme was prepared and published in the interest of fairness and everybody finding out about it at the same time.

“It was impossible to meet with individuals before the scheme was published and publically available to everybody. We are now prioritising the landowners and the people impacted and we’re meeting with those currently and over the coming month,” Mr Barrett said.

Concerns expressed by landowners regarding the Mallow to Dungarvan greenway route were also highlighted at a recent Dungarvan Lismore District meeting. At that meeting earlier this month, it was revealed that over 230 landowners located along the draft- emerging preferred route have been written to.