Ex-Green TD seeks to stop safety fence

JUST over a mile of fencing that was erected on commonage in West Connemara for safety reasons is now being vehemently opposed by a former Green Party TD.

The users of the commonage erected the fence to prevent livestock from wandering out onto the public road. Planning was granted by Galway County Council.

Even local Gardai have expressed concerns about the dangers of animals having access to the public road and its implications for motorists.

But former TD Roger Garland has appealed to An Bord Pleanála the fact that the erection of the fence prevents access to the lands from the public wishing to walk there.

He claimed that there was evidence of access to these lands at Derryadd West, Ballinahinch for the past 10 years. This has been disputed by those grazing the lands in question.

The open commonage comprises heath, bog, rock and grassland and 12 of the people that use lands have been put on notice of the matter.

They have made it clear to planners that it was necessary to erect the fencing to keep stock in.

They were complying with REPS and AEOS requirements.

The commonage is not grazed by all tenants, but all contributed to the fencing. The REPS and AEOS schemes require that the land must be stock-proof, which cannot be guaranteed without fencing, it is stated in the planning file.

There are two gates, but they would have no objection to putting in a stile if deemed necessary, but the tenants would have concerns regarding insurance if someone was injured.

They say that the commonage had been accessible from the public road, but was very rarely used by the general public over the last 65 years.