Over 100 farmers and landowners have attended a meeting to voice their concerns over the proposed Cork to Kinsale greenway.

The project, being developed by Cork County Council and funded by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), aims to provide a greenway between Cork City and Kinsale, and a link to future greenways in west Cork.

The project is currently nearing completion of phase 2, known as the option selection process.

A third public consultation to present the emerging preferred route corridor for the greenway and to invite feedback is currently open.

The recent meeting organised by the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) in Carrigaline heard that the emerging preferred route corridor is "totally unsuitable" for a greenway project.

Some farmers were critical of the council for "trying to impose a greenway without taking on board the views of the farming and local rural community".

The meeting also heard from a number of local TDs and county councillors.

Paul O’Brien, IFA Infrastructure Project Team chair, said that IFA had challenged Cork County Council's failure to utilise any public or state-owned lands for the greenway.

He claimed that this approach by the council is contrary to the government's 2018 Strategy for the Future Development of National and Regional Greenways.

“The strategy was clear in stating that the preferred model for future greenways is to use lands already in the undisputed ownership or control of the state, either through government agencies, government departments or local authorities,” he said.

"On the Cork to Kinsale Greenway, the council have explained that there are little or no state-owned lands in the emerging preferred route corridor,” he added.

IFA Munster Regional chair Conor O’Leary said attempting to impose a greenway on all private farmlands is unacceptable to the IFA and farmers.

He said it creates major disruption in terms of severance and could destroy the viability of some farms.

During a meeting with Cork County Council, the IFA outlined its opposition to any severance of farms or compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) for amenity projects like greenways.

“We also told the council that their proposed emerging preferred route corridor was totally unsuitable for a greenway because it cuts through all private farmland," O'Leary said.

“Some parts of the proposed greenway route being considered is planned to follow the old, abandoned railway line.

"IFA pointed out that this abandoned railway is now part of private farmland and is actively farmed with developments including roadways and farmyards and such a route is totally unsuitable for a Greenway," he said.

O'Leary said Cork County Council agreed to undertake a total review of the entire greenway project in view of the concerns raised.

He added that the council has told the IFA they will extend the public consultation deadline to Friday, August 29.

The Munster IFA Regional chair encouraged all farmers and landowners to make a submission.

Farmers at the meeting raised concerns about the potential disease risk for livestock as a result of infrastructural projects such as greenways.

Other issues included loss of privacy, security, increased litter, environmental concerns and excessive costs.

The IFA meeting in Carrigline was also addressed by Kevin Kinsella, agricultural consultant for the IFA, and by the Cork Central IFA chair Matt Hurley and West Cork IFA chair Tadgh Healy.

Agriland has contacted Cork County Council for comment.