COUNCILLORS have called on the local authority to pause all  planned greenway cutting through private lands until Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) reviews the code of practice in 2026.

Cllr John Collins (Ind Ire) raised a motion at a council meeting last week requesting that appropriate measures be implemented to protect property rights, livelihoods and the well-being and mental health of affected landowners.

Cllr Collins pointed out that Sligo County Council recently abandoned a greenway route as 70% of the development relied on private land. He said they recognised that it conflicted with the Code of Best Practice.

‘The code requires extensive public outreach through media leaflets and the project website but this did not happen with the Cork Kinsale Greenway leaving large parts of the community, including elderly residents unaware,’ said Cllr Collins.

He pointed out that most landowners only learnt who the PLO (Project Liaison Officer) was when they received letters after the third public consultation - long after the route option was chosen.

‘These failures were even acknowledged by TII on November 12th,’ he said. ‘Sligo County Council is adhering to the code of best practice and why can’t Cork County Council do the same?’

Cllr Daniel Sexton (Ind Ire) seconded the motion and said he hopes ‘common sense’ will prevail, adding that they need to press ‘reset’ until the code of practice is reviewed, while Cllr Danny Collins said private land should not be CPO’d for greenways.

Cllr Marie O’Sullivan (FG), who attended the recent meeting with TII officials in Dublin, said there is a real need for engagement with all stakeholders.

‘We emphasised the need that they need to engage with people properly and that if it is delivered that it be done respectfully and done in smaller scopes using public land to a maximum,’ said Cllr O’Sullivan.

Cllr Ann Bambury (SD) supported the motion in general and said it would be ideal for councillors to receive a sample size of the submissions made on the Cork to Kinsale Greenway.

‘There were over 2,000 submissions and it would give us a better-informed response on this. The community isn’t asking the council to break rules or abandon greenways but they are asking for consideration on human impact be given the same weight as others,’ said Cllr Bambury.

Cllr Ben Dalton O’Sullivan (Ind) said: ‘I can’t see how the Cork to Kinsale Greenway can be delivered in its current form. The council should rank the greenway routes that are more deliverable,’ said Cllr O’Sullivan.

Cllr Isobel Towse (SD) said she agreed with the general points made but couldn’t support the motion as she didn’t think it would be fair that all greenway projects be paused.

Cllr Alan Coleman (Ind) welcomed the review by TII but he said there should also be a Government review and that active travel and greenways should be ‘decoupled’.

Council chief executive Moira Murrell pointed out that the council act as agent for TII and it does not have the remit to pause greenway projects.

‘We are in the non-statutory phase of this and it’s to assess the most appropriate route. We are looking to see how this can be achieved and we will come back to councillors on this,’ she said.

She said the public submissions for the Cork to Kinsale Greenway are being assessed and they expect to be able to talk to councillors on this in January.