'Cruel' planning policy is 'anti-farmer', says Cork councillor

Objections from transport authorities to planning applications along West Cork’s N71 road are “cruel” and “anti-farmer”, according to local Fianna Fáil councillor Joe Carroll.

Mr Carroll made the comments at the recent meeting of Cork County Council’s Western Committee, where a report on road infrastructure was presented to councillors.

Mr Carroll said he was part of a delegation from the council that met with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) officials in Dublin in October, where he said the TII representatives “didn’t seem to be very encouraging”. 

Mr Carroll said a lack of development of the N71, the main national road connecting Cork City to West Cork and onto Kenmare in Co Kerry, meant it was almost impossible for young famers to get planning permission along the route, as sight-lines required by planning guidelines were virtually impossible to achieve anywhere along the route.

Mr Carroll said a large number of farmers were being turned down for planning permission because of objections from TII, as sight-lines of 70m from each side of an entrance onto the road was not achievable. 

Mr Carroll said: “You won’t find that anywhere on the N71 from here to Kenmare.” 

Mr Carroll said when he has raised the issue previously, he has been told officials were “only implementing policy”. 

"It’s a cruel policy and it’s anti-farmer.” 

Mr Carroll called for the council to write to TII to “state the case”, and not to accept the response that the State body was applying policy. 

“Too many young farmers are being turned down for planning. Do we want them to stay in farming?”

 This article is funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme