Greenways, recreational access and landowner willingness to accept: a contingent valuation study of farmers in Ireland. Issue 13 (10th November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: McGurk, Eoin; Hynes, Stephen; Manton, Richard; Thorne, Fiona; Clifford, Eoghan
• Is Part Of: Journal of environmental planning and management. Volume 62:Issue 13(2019)
• Page Start: 2375
• Page End: 2392
• Publication Date: 2019-11-10
• Subjects: contingent valuation -- spike model -- recreational access -- landowners -- greenway; City planning -- Periodicals; City planning -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Regional planning -- Periodicals; Regional planning -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 333.7
• DOI: 10.1080/09640568.2018.1559045
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0964-0568

Abstract

Abstract : There are ambitious plans to construct an extensive network of off-road walking and cycling routes, known as greenways, across Ireland. However, land acquisition has proven challenging in some rural areas. This paper uses a contingent valuation study, based on the Teagasc National Farm Survey (NFS) of Ireland, to explore farmers' willingness to participate in greenway development. The results reveal that farmers are split on the issue of greenway land acquisition: approximately half would not allow a route to run through their farm, irrespective of compensation. Farmers' main concerns in this regard are: insurance, impact on farming operations and nuisance/crime. Of the farmers willing to participate in greenway development, the mean (once-off) payment required is €56, 000 per kilometre of greenway length. These findings suggest that Irish Government agencies and local authorities must work to alleviate farmers' concerns and undertake extensive consultation to yield acceptable route options.