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Farmers on the Cooley Peninsula in County Louth are expressing serious concern about Louth County Council's proposed Dundalk to Carlingford Greenway project which was proposed to link up with the Newry to Carlingford greenway stretch.
The Irish Farmers' Association is throwing its full support behind their opposition to Compulsory Purchase Orders and farm severance.
IFA President Francie Gorman recently visited the Cooley Peninsula and met with local farmers on the ground who have expressed concern about the proposed project. "With a decision due, farmers in Cooley are worried that their farms maybe severed, or even worse, have their lands subject to a Compulsory Purchase Order."
The IFA said they are totally opposed to the use of CPOs for Greenways and also opposed to the severance of farms for such projects. Francie Gorman said it's also very clear Louth County Council does not have the support of the local community for such measures.
Francie Gorman said that he agreed with the Taoiseach Micheál Martin when he recently said in the Dáil that once a project enters the CPO process "you're in trouble in terms of any Greenway" and he called on Transport Infrastructure Ireland to "ease up on the spec" regarding the use of CPOs.
Louth IFA Chair Kevin Sweeney said that Louth County Council should take a step back and drop their plans for a Greenway on predominantly private lands that will rip through the heart of the Cooley Peninsula. He said the County Council is putting at risk the positive relationship developed between landowners and walkers on permissive access to mountain walks in the area over many years.
"This proposal from Louth County Council has caused a lot of stress and disruption to farmers and the wider community on the Cooley peninsula. There are serious questions to be answered about the spending of taxpayers' money on a project that is not in line with Government strategy and does not have the support of the community," he said.
The issue highlights growing tensions around Greenway development across the country, with farmers and rural communities increasingly vocal about proposals that would see private agricultural land compulsorily acquired for recreational routes.
Francie Gorman said the IFA will fully support Louth IFA on the issue and stand with the farmers of Cooley in their opposition to CPOs and the severance of farms.
