Farmers west of Galway city to Oughterard have a number of serious concerns with the current proposed Galway-Dublin Greenway and feel discriminated against.
Although the majority of farmers and householders are in favour of and would welcome a dedicated cycle/walkway west of the city the local Oughterard/Killannin IFA strongly feel alternative routes need to be considered.
The branch has called on Galway Co. Council to look at the alternatives for the greenway and take the concerns of the affected parties into consideration.
Among the concerns are the division of farm holdings, close proximity to private dwelling houses and family homes, privacy and lack of consultation from Galway Co. Council.
Other issues, according to the branch, are security and safety concerns for proposed users as farms are the most dangerous workplaces in the country.
In a letter to the IFA from both Ministers Ring and O’Donohoe they stated that the cycleway must dock in every town and yet this is not the case in the west where it bypasses Moycullen, Rosscahill and Oughterard, a spokesperson for the branch said.
According to the branch, the Connemara Region is heavily reliant on tourism.
The route is mainly running through privately owned land some of which was formerly the Galway-Clifden railway line which is closed since 1935.
The Oughterard/Killannin IFA is calling on all cycle/walking enthusiasts and all other organisations for their support in the resolution of this dispute.