Call to respect rights of landowners in cycle and walking route plans

Plans to develop walking and cycling routes in the South-West could run into obstacles unless landowners’ rights are respected, it has been warned.

Some disused railway lines in Cork, Kerry, Limerick and several other areas are being developed as greenways, seen as having big tourism potential.

However, Independent councillor Danny Healy- Rae said legal rights should not be given to greenways while ignoring the rights of farmers and other landowners along such routes.

“We can’t be asked to put a right of way over somebody’s land,’’ he said.

The issue arose during consideration for a new six-year county development plan by Kerry County Council, which encourages the provision of a network of pathways and cycleways.

However, difficulties have already arisen with plans to extend the Great Southern Trail on a disused rail line across north Kerry as far as Tralee. Farmers are claiming rights to sections of the old line, despite CIÉ’s insistence that it owns all the property on the line.

Seven submissions on greenways have been made regarding the draft county development plan 2015 to 2021, all urging further development.

One submission calls for the appointment of a cycling/walking officer and another proposes an iconic route around the foothills of MacGillycuddy’s Reeks.

The lack of safe cycling facilities, especially in north Kerry, is highlighted.

Director of planning Michael McMahon said the new plan does not give the green light to any specific project and any proposed new routes must go through the planning process.

He said the plan does not seek “to ride roughshod’’ over landowners’ rights.