Mayo councillor warns "there will be war” over Murrisk Greenway

Mayo County Council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) have been told to expect 'a war' if they try to CPO land to make way for the Murrisk Greenway.

There was further division between West Mayo councillors at the monthly meeting of Mayo County Council where councillors were informed that funding for Greenways in Mayo will not be sanctioned unless the land is owned by the local authority.

The issue was raised following a notice of motion by Cllr Peter Flynn who asked for a report setting out the 'implications for all Local Authorities' in relation to the delivery of greenways since responsibility was passed from the county council's to the TII.

In the report, Director of Services Tom Gilligan outlined that the local authorities are obliged to follow the guidelines adopted by the TII and failure to do so will result in funding being withdrawn.

At the monthly meeting, Cllr Flynn, who supports the current preferred route option of the Belclare to Murrisk Greenway said it was clear that if the TII guidelines are not followed no new Greenway project will go ahead.

“There has been so much misinformation in relation to greenways. Everytime you go on social media there are experts on there and you read some of the articles in papers by so-called journalists who have all the answers ... but yet this is absolutely clear. TII is the ultimate body for the delivery of every single phase of the Greenway programme.

“We have an opportunity to use the multi-millions TII have to fund Greenways which I believe will put Mayo on the world map. If we don't we will lose the funding,” he told the meeting.

READ: Mayo schools pension parity strike ends as both sides enter the WRC 

However, his three colleagues in the Westport Electoral Area – Cllr Brendan Mulroy, Cllr Chris Maxwell and Cllr John O'Malley – all voiced their opinion that the preferred route for the Greenway will not happen.

'Morally wrong'

Cllr Mulroy told the meeting that it would be 'morally wrong' for the TII and the council to try to CPO for the Greenway.

“It is good to get the information out of TII that Mayo County Council will have to own the land and basically means that the land will be compulsory purchased. The vast majority of people I know are totally opposed to it and the bad news for them is the TII are going to offer money and when they refuse they are going to take their land.

“That is morally wrong. The only way the Greenway will go through Belclare is by CPO and the land will be taken. As the saying goes, bring on the war because there will be war,” he warned.

Opponents to the preferred route have called for the greenway to be developed alongside the R335 road to Louisburgh and the three councillors all called for that route to be explored.

“Not only will they get a greenway but they will also get a new road,” added Cllr Mulroy.

“The bad news for the people in that area is the TII have to take over that land. I won't stand over it and that is not the way to do business. It sets a bad precedent and if that is the plan they will not get the support of the local community.”

Cllr Brendan Mulroy

The Belclare to Murrisk Greenway is currently going through the design and evaluation stage and the final route is expected to come before the local councillors for approval later this year.

Independent councillor John O'Malley said that proposals to CPO land for greenways in Cork and Kerry have also faced opposition from landowners.

“This is not an essential development to have a greenway and take farmers' land. That is immoral and against the constitution of this country to CPO land for non-essential purposes. I think the TII need to pull in their tail and if they want the Greenway I propose they go out the road,” he said.

'Vanity project'

Louisburgh -based councillor Chris Maxwell described the Greenway to Croagh Patrick as a 'vanity project' and claimed he was in correspondence with farming groups who he said do not support the CPO of land for greenways. He added they rejected claims they agreed to this when they signed up to the Code of Best Practice for National and Regional Greenways.

The Independent Ireland councillor said the people don't want a Greenway going through their land and asked that they be left alone.

“There is no point talking about compensation because they just don't want people going through their land. Money doesn't come into it with them and they don't want the money. They want to be left alone in peace,” he said.

Cllr Maxwell warned that even if CPO is used to bring the Greenway to Murrisk, they will face similar opposition from farmers when they try to extend it towards Louisburgh.

“It is the TII who are the problem in my eyes,” he said.

In response to the opposition from his fellow councillors, Cllr Flynn said the report by Tom Gilligan emphasised that they either agree to the TII policy or funding will be lost.

“If we are not agreeable to the TII then the greenways will be shut down and I want to make sure that is heard loud and clear. We cannot have an adhoc situation where we make it up as we go along. We don't have that control because it is under national policy and guidelines and they are the rules we have to play within. Whether you agree or disagree with it, that is what we are dealing with.

“We can either agree to go ahead in adherence with national legislation and guidelines or it will go into the bin. It will be regrettable if the Greenway network for Mayo goes in the bin,” he said.