Further feasibility study on proposed greenway linking Mallow with Dungarvan

A FURTHER feasibility study will now be undertaken on the proposed new greenway linking Dungarvan to Mallow, following concerns raised by landowners along the route.

The additional survey was confirmed yesterday by Cork County Council and by Waterford City and County Council, working in tandem with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII).

It comes after farmers in Cork and west Waterford complained that they have not been listened to or fairly consulted about an infrastructure project which will cut through their lands.

The proposed greenway, which would follow the old, abandoned train route, will go through land which is 88% active farm land, the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) has said.

A recent delegation of IFA members, led by north Cork chair Pat O’Keeffe and Waterford chair John Heffernan, told senior officials from the Cork and Waterford councils that the proposed greenway would sever numerous farms along the current proposed route.

Mr O’Keeffe said farmers were angry and frustrated at what they saw as a lack of understanding and appreciation of the impact of a greenway cutting through active farmland.

“Many issues were raised, including privacy, security, litter, animal disease, and wildlife and environment,” he commented.

The IFA delegation stressed to officials the association’s opposition to farm severance and the use of compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) for amenity projects such as greenways.

In a joint statement from the Cork and Waterford councils and TII issued yesterday, it was announced that an additional feasibility study will now be undertaken on the Dungarvan to Mallow Greenway.

“The option selection process is a critical decision-making point, before further advancing and closing out this process, the decision has been taken to re-assess the feasible options between Dungarvan and Mallow,” the statement said.