North Clare farmers shocked by mention of CPOs on Cliffs of Moher walk report

FARMERS have said the option of a compulsory purchase order (CPO) for the thirty six landowners along the Cliffs of Moher walk should be totally removed from a draft report on its fuure management.

In recommending Clare County Council take over full ownership of the coastal walk, consultant engineers Tobin said all options should be explored by the local authority to do this including long-term leases and acquiring the land by compulsory purchase order (CPO) if necessary.

Potential of CPOs has infuriated landowners in North Clare. However a spokesperson for Clare County Council said a CPO was “never the preferred option”.

In a statement to The Clare Echo, the Council said, “As the “Cliffs of Moher Coastal Walk Management Plan” or the so-called Tobin Report, is still a draft and not signed off by the relevant partners, Clare County Council cannot comment on the report at this stage. The local authority does acknowledge however the upset to landowners following the leaked report of the initial draft, with much of the attention from the leaked report focusing on the possible use of CPO. This is never the preferred option of Clare County Council who remain committed to continue working with local landowners in the area to ensure a walk can ultimately exist from Doolin to Hags Head. Clare County Council looks forward to engaging and discussing future plans for the Cliffs of Moher Walk with all interested parties following the publication of the final report”.

IFA President Francie Gorman has strongly rejected the prospect of using CPOs to take private land from farmers. “Farmers are reading reports which state that Clare County Council has been advised to buy-out all 36 landowners who currently own sections of the Cliffs of Moher trail, using Compulsory Purchase Orders if necessary. This is nothing short of an attempt to intimidate and bully the landowners and will be resisted outright. Many years ago landowners on the Cliffs of Moher agreed to allow a permissive walk through their lands and they are now being threatened with a CPO”.

Former Clare IFA Chair Tom Lane, who has been leading negotiations on behalf of landowners, called on Clare County Council to immediately withdraw the CPO option and threat from the draft report. “Instead, they should engage constructively with the farmers and the IFA so an appropriate and effective arrangement can be agreed on the Cliffs of Moher coastal walk which reflects the scale of up to 1.5 million tourists and estimated revenue of €19m annually”.

He said the threat of CPOs has sent shock waves to landowners all over the country who have facilitated walkways in their local communities and benefited tourism. “On the Cliffs of Moher, as a direct consequence of facilitating the walkway and making it a success through permissive access, landowners are facing the threat of a CPO. This is wrong and a complete abuse of power”.