Just 40% of farmers support greenway plans

A senior official with Galway County Council has claimed that 40% of farmers were supportive of the proposed controversial greenway coming through their lands.

And Director of Services for Roads and Transportation, Liam Gavin asked elected members to be positive about the economic and social benefits from the provision of the greenway through lands in East Galway.

But members of Ballinasloe Municipal Council maintained that there was growing opposition to the plan and did not believe it was a runner in its current format.

The Council and the National Roads Authority have been asked to go back to ‘the drawing board’.

It is planned to provide a coast to coast greenway from Dublin to Galway and the indications are that the National Roads Authority are not going to terminate the greenway in Athlone.

One source in the NRA said that it would be completed to Galway “come hell or high water”.

The reason for this is that it will ultimately link with the Galway to Clifden greenway which is currently being constructed along the old railway line between the two destinations.

Another presentation has been made to Municipal Councils along the proposed route of the greenway including Ballinasloe last week where councillors were strong in their opposition to the project and one councillor walked out in protest before the presentation even began.

It is an indication of the huge opposition there is to the greenway crossing farmland between Ballinasloe and Oranmore.

The IFA is opposed to it while other independent organisations have been established to voice their objections.

The section of greenway from Dublin to Athlone will mainly be along the banks of the Royal Canal which is largely in public ownership.

The remainder of the route may require compulsory purchase orders, which would be a nightmare scenario for landowners.

Mr Gavin spoke about the huge economic benefit for East Galway towns and villages and also outlined what consultation process has been carried out with landowners along the route.

“It is not about me or Galway County Council, it is about people and community. We have had public consultations and I do admit that there are around 60% of land owners opposed to it,” he added.

Fine Gael’s Cllr Aidan Donohue believed that the opposition was much greater. He said that the NRA was “bullish” about the route but it could blow up in their faces.

In a lengthy submission, Cllr Michael Connolly of Fianna Fail said that it was imperative that any lands acquired will be by mutual agreement and not CPO.

He said that this was being driven by people in Dublin who have no idea the impact of such a greenway on the farming community in the West of Ireland.

Cllr. Connolly added that the greenway was being ‘foisted’ on farmers in the west.

“If they do not get the goodwill of the community, then it cannot work,” he remarked.