Talks in Fenit Island Dispute have Failed
There is huge disappointment and anger in Fenit at the news that the talks which were facilitated by Kerry County Council have failed to resolve the issue of the right of way around Fenit Island.
The Fenit Island Access Committee have just learned that an initial meeting between landowners and Kerry County Council Officials was positive. It is believed that some headway was made towards resolving the access problem to everyone’s satisfaction. However, since that meeting, in which the three landowners apparently agreed to work with KCC to restore public access around the Island, they have subsequently withdrawn from any further efforts to resolve the dispute.
During the period that negotiations had been taking place the campaign to regain access to the Fenit Island has been on hold. The protest walk planned for 17 April was postponed at the last minute and other planned events were temporarily halted. The Facebook campaign was also put on hold. This was done as a good faith gesture in the hope that the talks might result in a mutually satisfactory outcome.
However, it now appears that the talks did not achieve any real progress. It is unclear why the three landowners requested talks only to walk away from them after a single meeting with the County Manager.
The campaign coordinating committee have already begun a series of meetings to review the situation and decide how best to react. It should be noted that the committee are committed to finding an amicable solution which will allow everybody to enjoy the beauty and solitude of Fenit Island and for the Fenit community to live in harmony with our neighbours