A draft report on the future management of a walking trail along the famous Cliffs of Moher has recommended that Clare County Council take ownership of the scenic walkway and manage the amenity.
Sections of the 11km walking trail, which borders the Cliffs of Moher visitor centre to Hag's Head and Liscannor to the south and to Doolin on the northside, have been closed to walkers since last year because of safety concerns and will remain shut for this tourist season.
The cliffs are the biggest natural tourist attraction in the country, attracting over 1.5 million visitors a year who walk the trail as well as using the tourist visitor centre located there.
A report by Tobin engineers, commissioned by Clare County Council, on how best to manage the coastal walkway has recommended that the best way to ensure the long-term development and safety of the trail is for the council to take it into its ownership.
It also estimates the yearly cost of managing the walkway could be close to €500,000.
The report said the local authority should explore all options for securing ownership, including long-term leases and acquiring the land by compulsory purchase order (CPO) if necessary.
The very mention of CPOs has left the 36 farmers and those who own the land on the trail very upset, and this option should never have been included in the draft report, according to Clare farmer and former IFA county chairperson Tom Lane.
"Farmers and landowners provided permission to access their land over the years, and now to have a CPO hanging over them - there is nothing worse," he said.
"Farmers and landowners have played a major part in enhancing and developing the whole Cliffs of Moher experience and feel their role is not being adequately acknowledged," he said.
The report does acknowledge a "perceived inequality" associated with the significant annual fees which the visitor centre receives, and farmers, given that the coastal walk is an important part of the overall cliffs amenity, feel they are not properly compensated for providing access to their lands for the enjoyment of visitors.
Mr Lane feels that proper engagement with landowners is very important to ensure the long-term sustainability and development of the cliff walk and to come to some arrangement which will ensure the enjoyment and safety of the walk for all.
It is understood the CPO option mentioned in the report would only be a last resort in any efforts to secure ownership by the council.
Businesses along the trail are also concerned about the long-term closure of the cliff walk and its impact on businesses.
Anthony Moloney, owner of the Doolin Inn, said the perception among many is that the entire Cliffs of Moher Experience is closed.
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"Sections of the cliff walkway are closed, and this is having a significant impact on business here - already we can see it on our web pages."
"The trail is a phenomenal asset, and it needs to be developed safely. People who come to walk it are also the type of visitor who will stay in the area and spend money in local businesses and this business needs to be protected," he said.
A final draft of the Tobin report is due to be published by Clare County Council later this week.
A spokesperson for Clare County 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 Hag's 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."
