Farmers group call for stay on vesting order on Mayo island CPO
The INHFA have called for a stay on plans to implement the CPO of 440 acres of land on Achill Island
A farming organisation has called on Mayo County Council councillors to put a stay on any move by the council to implement a compulsory purchase order on the Keel Sandybanks on Achill Island.
The Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) have called on Mayo councillors to support a motion calling for a stay on plans to go ahead with a vesting order to implement the CPO of 440 acres of land on Achill Island.
Mayo County Council confirmed last week that they intend to advertise for the vesting order in the coming weeks to finalise the Compulsory Purchase of the Keel Sandybanks on Achill Island, 56 years after the CPO was signed off.
The ownership of the Keel Sandybanks has been a matter of contention on Achill Island for over 20 years with Mayo County Council claiming ownership of it while locals believe it is part of the Achill Mission Estate and owned by over 500 shareholders who claim grazing rights.
The monthly meeting of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District which took place last Monday heard claims that the Compulsory Purchase Order for the Keel Sandybanks was signed by the the Mayo County Manager, Liam McLoughlin on February 12, 1970 and signed off by the then Minister for Local Government, Robert Molloy on October 2, 1970. The vesting order was never finalised at the time and the title remains in the ownership of the shareholders of the Achill Mission Estate.
Speaking on the subject, INHFA National Chair Micheál McDonnell called for all county councillors to back a stay on the implementation of a vesting order to finalise the compulsory purchase order first initiated in 1970.
“This stay is necessary to allow adequate time to fully assess the process by which the lands were acquired. Since the news broke a number of members have contacted INHFA expressing their concern and dismay and it is vital that these concerns are listened to and addressed.
“Farmers have farmed these lands on the clear understanding that they owned the land and indeed have, when required, provided the necessary documentation to the Department of Agriculture,” he said.
In concluding the INHFA representative stressed how this process must not be rushed “as all of the legal elements must be considered”.