Councillors don't want CPOs for greenways
The first two phases of the Great Western Greenway from Westport to Achill were developed through permissive access.
A Mayo councillor has questioned if the decision to grant planning permission for the extension of the Achill Greenway supersedes changes to the management of greenways. Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) is now in charge of the provision of greenways instead of local authorities.
Cllr Paul McNamara told last Friday's meeting of Westport-Belmullet Municipal District that local councillors gave the go-ahead in June 2020 for phase three of the Great Western Greenway from Achill Sound to Bunacurry. He said this permission (known as a 'Part 8') was granted before TII took over and changes were made to the development of greenways.
Cllr McNamara said up to that point all greenways in the county progressed via permissive access from landowners rather than voluntary land acquisition and, as a last resort, compulsory purchase orders (CPO) which are now a possibility under the new structures. He said these new guidelines came into place in 2021.
Cllr McNamara said phase three of the Greenway should fall under the original structures that were in place before 2021.
“The Part 8 that came before us was a permissive access agreement,” he stated.
The council is to examine the issue and report back to Cllr McNamara in June. The majority of councillors felt permissive access has to be a part of any greenway development.
“There can be no other way a greenway can or should be built,” said Cllr John O’Malley, adding that the CPO “is not going to work". He said the problematic planned greenway from Belclare to Murrisk should also progress via the permissive access route.
However, Cllr Peter Flynn said he believes the days of permissive access are numbered.
“The reality now is that Mayo Co Council and no other county council is responsible for greenways. The parameters have changed."
Cllr Flynn said securing the provision of previous Great Western Greenway sections from Westport to Achill would be “near on miraculous” in the present day.
“I think as a society we weren’t as wealthy; we weren’t as affluent overall. And I honestly think, it’s not just greenways, but in general people are becoming more and more selfish and how it impacts themselves. Nimbyism has never been stronger in Ireland."
Cllr Flynn argued that people no longer want any type of development near their property.
“It’s fine to put it in somebody else’s backyard but not in mine. And that’s the reality of the situation.”
