The Supreme Court has rejected two legal appeals against the South Kerry Greenway project.
An Bord Pleanála granted planning permission to Kerry County Council for the 27km route from Glenbeigh to Caherciveen in November 2020 and the accompanying Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) for the lands required for the project.
The local authority had originally sought permission for a 31km route as far as Renard but the planning board decided to omit two sections of the scheme when it granted permission.
The decision of the board was the subject of two separate legal appeals to the High Court by environmentalist Peter Sweetman and local landowner James Clifford and also by a group of landowners in the area from the Greenway Information Group.
The High Court dismissed the challenges and refused leave to appeal in October 2021.
Greenway legal appeal
The following month both parties lodged appeals with the Supreme Court against An Bord Pleanála, Kerry County Council and the Attorney General.
One appeal argued that the CPO decision was flawed, while the other claimed the High Court had not addressed An Bord Pleanála’s failure to assess the environmental or public safety impacts of the project.
Last night (Monday, February 7, 2022), the Supreme Court rejected both applications for leave to appeal against the decision of the High Court.
This means that the way has been cleared for work on the South Kerry Greenway to begin; the project has been hailed as “a game changer” for the region.
In a statement today, Kerry County Council said that it “notes the decision of the Supreme Court issued last evening in relation to the South Kerry Greenway project”.
The council said that it “warmly welcomes the decision of the court and looks forward to the commencement of construction of the South Kerry Greenway at the earliest opportunity and ensuring delivery of an enormously important amenity for the county”.
‘Historic day’ for Kerry
The Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council also welcomed the ruling by the Supreme Court.
Councillor Jimmy Moloney said that the South Kerry Greenway will be “transformative for the county and the southwest region”.
“I am delighted that this matter has been settled by the Supreme Court and that Kerry County Council can now proceed with the construction of the greenway.
“Coming as it does so close to the scheduled opening of the Tralee-Fenit and Listowel-Abbeyfeale greenways this summer, this is an enormous boost for the local economy and the tourism industry in Kerry,” said Cllr. Moloney.
Meanwhile, cathaoirleach of the Kenmare Municipal District, Councillor Michael Cahill said that the greenway will be of enormous benefit to the entire county from an economic and tourism perspective.
“It has the potential to attract thousands of visitors to the area every year,” he noted.
“This is a historic day for the Iveragh Peninsula and the whole of Kerry. It will be one of our most iconic attractions and leisure amenities and I look forward to its construction over the coming years,” Cahill concluded.