THE Irish Farmers Association (IFA) is calling on Cork County Council to go ‘back to the drawing board’ and recognise that the proposed controversial Cork to Kinsale Greenway is not fit for purpose.

An IFA delegation recently met with council officials to discuss the project, which has drawn huge criticism from local landowners along a preferred route option which they say could see their farms or lands subject to CPOs (Compulsory Purchase Orders).

Cork County Council is expected to publish the public consultation report in the coming weeks and it is its intention to engage with individual landowners along some sections of the preferred route.

Some landowners along the proposed route said there was a lack of information about the project, with many only hearing about it when they received letters from the Cork National Roads Office last summer.

IFA Munster Regional chair, Conor O’Leary, said it is now becoming apparent that this project is ‘seriously struggling’ because he says it is failing to meet the Greenway Code of Practice and it does not have adequate community support.

The IFA said that Cork County Council is now proposing to divide the proposed greenway into three different sections because they cannot find a way to develop the full project end-to- end and have placed a section in abeyance.

‘This approach is incompatible with the consultation process undertaken with the public to date and is not in line with the Greenway Code of Practice,’ according to O’Leary.

‘It is not acceptable that the council is attempting to change the rules in the process, resulting in new pressure and isolation of landowners on certain sections along the entire route.’

The IFA also noted that the proposed Cork to Kinsale Greenway failed to meet the Greenway code and Government strategy on Greenways and also lacks the necessary community support.

Based on the public consultation number three undertaken last year, 60% of 2,000 respondents outlined their opposition to the greenway.

The IFA said that the main points of opposition included the impact of the greenway on private property and farmland; loss of privacy; security concerns; fears of anti-social behaviour; environmental concerns and poor value for money for taxpayers.

IFA Infrastructure chair Paul O’Brien said Cork County Council need to recognise that the proposed route is totally unsuitable for a Greenway project.

‘They are attempting to impose a greenway on predominantly private property and farmland and without adequate public or State-owned lands this creates major challenges,’ he said.

‘This project has created widespread opposition, division and severe upset in local communities. A greenway has to have the support of the local community and it’s clear from the public consultation and the meetings that have taken place that this is not the case.’

The IFA delegation also made it very clear to the Council that the organisation is opposed to any severance of farms or CPOs for amenity projects like greenways.

While some parts of the proposed route follow the old, abandoned railway line, Paul O’Brien pointed out that this railway is now part of private farmland, is actively farmed and includes roadways and farmyards.

IFA Environmental Committer chair John Murphy said the engagement with Cork County Council was professional and frank.

‘The engagement with the council is very important and provided IFA with the opportunity to clearly outline all of the concerns and issues of farmers and landowners.’

Council officials previously said that they would be briefing councillors from two municipal districts – Bandon Kinsale and Carrigaline – before landowners and homeowners will be update on the project.

Cork County Council was contacted for comment.