Greenway code of practice ‘a template’ for rural access

A CODE of practice for greenway development 'hits the desired balance' for farmers and landowners both in terms of fair payment and avoidance of tiresome and time-consuming CPOs and legal disputes.

Chairperson of the ICMSA’s farm and rural affairs committee, Denis Drennan, said his organisation welcomes agreement on the code of practice, saying the first thing to note is that it doesn't undermine a landowner’s legal rights in any way and it is a voluntary option available to a landowner if they should so wish.

Mr. Drennan said that, yet again, farmers had shown themselves to be cooperative and committed to the public good where the fairness was shown to the farmers concerned.

He said that the negotiations had been protracted and involved and that the working group set up by the Department of Transport had been diligent and conscious of the rights of the farmers and landowners.

He noted that this realism and appreciation of the nature of the question contrasted starkly with the atmosphere around other so-called ‘access issues’ where progress was impossible because of unrealistic expectations that farmer-landowners should just put aside their own rights and property in the interests of visitors or ramblers.

Mr. Drennan said that the progress on the greenways provided the template for future discussions on these questions.

He commented: “Where farmers are consulted and treated with respect, where our rights and property are respected, progress can and will be made.

“ICMSA believes that the code does protect farmers’ rights, and provides clear guidance around the issues with greenways for farmers. Obviously we think that the use of private property for greenway should be minimised and - where it is unavoidable - the level of disturbance must be kept to an absolute minimum.”