Let’s have realistic compensation for land

THE CPO system appears fine until one witnesses it in operation. All that results is people’s annoyance at the manner of its operation.

Its successful operation depends on the enterprises impacted upon and the opportunity people have for real consultation as opposed to apparent consultation.

Some holdings will be crisscrossed in three or four places, which will render the continuance of some farming enterprises uneconomic and will impact severely and negatively upon the normal, quiet enjoyment by those affected of their houses.

Some of the routes will come so close to their houses that they will be the equivalent of prison walls.

All proposals must be reasonable, sensible and sensitive to those affected.

The kernel of the problem for landowners is that the compensation procedure is inadequate because it reflects the agricultural value of the land acquired.

This is an anachronism because of what is taking place in major road development. The land being acquired should be accordingly valued at market prices, which should be set relative to the price of development land which would constitute the replacement value of the land at least.

If we want to build roads, the minister must alter the public consultation procedure, provide some political direction to the NRA, which should be made accountable to Government, and radically revamp the CPO procedure to ensure it provides for realistic compensation.

Cllr Noel Collins,

St Jude’s,

Midleton,

Co Cork.