The decision by Kerry County Council to put a maintenance scheme in place to provide payments to landowners to undertake maintenance work along the proposed South Kerry Greenway has been welcomed by South Kerry Development Partnership Ltd. (SKDP).
The proposed scheme, which will be administered by SKDP, will see landowners along the route securing a minimum payment of €300 a year with an additional €2 per meter of greenway they will maintain. It is estimated that the average payment to landowners will be in the region of €600 a year. The work will include strimming, keeping the route free of litter and ensuring gates are kept closed to ensure animals do not cause a hazard on the route. Landowners will also inspect the route and maintain fencing, gates and trail furniture regularly to ensure they are not damaged so as to help ensure the greenway is maintained to the highest standards.
Speaking after the announcement of the maintenance scheme, SKDP CEO Noel Spillane said that he was delighted that it had been put in place. “This is something we would have favoured and recommended from the outset of this proposed project in order to help deliver economic benefit from it directly to the landowners” Noel said. “We already administer a similar scheme along the Kerry Way and part of the Beara Way and it has proven to be hugely beneficial in terms of both ensuring the walking trails are maintained to the highest standards possible but in also helping deliver a direct economic benefit to the landowners who maintain the routes.
Just over 170 landowners could benefit from the new maintenance scheme but Noel Spillane pointed out that it will operate on a voluntary basis and there is no obligation on the landowners to sign up for it. “If they choose not to participate then SKDP will undertake the work on those sections instead” he said pointing out that Kerry County Council will have responsibility for all structural related work and replacement of fencing and trail furniture along the proposed route if required. “All participating landowners will be provided with training and the necessary materials to undertake the maintenance of the route and will be fully covered by insurance. Every effort will be made by SKDP to keep the maintenance scheme as farm friendly as possible” Noel noted.
Noel Spillane appealed to those landowners opposed to the CPO process to reconsider their position in view of the proposed maintenance scheme and also given the economic importance of the project to the South Kerry area. “A thorough consultation process by Kerry County Council, supported by SKDP failed to secure the agreement of all landowners required so unfortunately Kerry County Council have no alternative but to proceed with the CPO process if the Greenway is to proceed” Noel concluded.
