One of the great advantages of living in West Kerry during a coronavirus lockdown is that there s an abundance of opportunities for getting out into the countryside but farmers are warning dog owners to leave their pets at home because dogs and sheep are a bad mix, especially during the lambing season.
Farmers made it clear this week that people who go out walking on the hills will not be welcome if they bring their dogs with them, even if the dogs are on a lead.
County Councillor, sheep farmer and Dingle Hillwalking Club member Seamus Cosaí Mac Gearailt told The Kerryman that problems with dogs worrying sheep have increased because more people are heading for the hills during the lockdown and some dog owners bring their pets with them, often not knowing that they are causing a huge problem for farmers.
101 submissions were received relating to this plan during the public consultation period.
A number of amendments, based on the submissions made, were discussed and voted on by the Castleisland Corca Dhuibhne Municipal District councillors at an online meeting.
This was a historical meeting, as it was the first vote on a Local Area Plan to take place online.
A submission made by the Office of the Planning Regulator recommended that plans to zone an area at Ballybeg, Dingle as residential land wouldn’t proceed, unless a comprehensive, evidence-based justification for its inclusion was provided; it suggested prioritising lands nearer the town centre.