Kerry councillor calls for CPO to acquire land for vital footpath

By Alastair Tibbs, The Kerryman

A Kerry councillor has called for a compulsory purchase order to progress a footpath in the interests of public safety.

Councillor Tom Barry said the stalling of safety works in the Clieveragh/Bedford area of Listowel may call for a CPO to acquire land from the landowner.

Pedestrians wishing to make their way into Listowel from some parts of the Clieveragh and Bedford residential areas, located on the northern outskirts of the town, currently have no choice but to walk on the narrow stretch of road due the absence of a footpath.

At a Listowel Municipal District meeting last week, Cllr Barry said negotiations with the landowner had stalled and argued public safety had to come first.

“It’s dragging on and it is frustrating for us and even more frustrating for the people living up there…it’s a very dangerous stretch of road,” he said.

“The priority here for all of us has always been health and safety. Health and safety for the people living up there and the people using that road.

“I think we’re at the stage if we’re not progressing, we’re going to have to look at CPO.”

He added the area was developing rapidly and there were a lot of families now living in the new houses.

“If they’re not willing to budge I think we should be setting a timeline here…it’s getting too dangerous up there,” said Cllr Barry.

The council said they were continuing to engage with the relevant landowners to endeavour to acquire the necessary land to facilitate the proposed footpath.