Lorry ban sought as plan for Slane bypass rejected

The Irish Times – Thursday, March 8, 2012

A BYPASS of Slane village is unlikely to be built for at least a decade following yesterday’s refusal of planning approval by An Bord Pleanála, Department of Transport sources have said. The new road would have bypassed the existing Boyne bridge and N2 road through the Co Meath village. In its refusal yesterday, the board said the proposed 3.5km bypass, which was to be located 1.1km to the east of the current bridge, was within the “viewshed” of the Brú na Bóinne Unesco world heritage site, which includes the neolithic monuments of Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth. It said the scheme “would be acceptable only where it has been demonstrated that no appropriate alternative is available”.

Campaign group Save Newgrange which opposed the bypass immediately called for a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) ban in the village, while the Slane Bridge Action Group said it was “devastated” by the refusal and expressed scepticism that a HGV ban could or would be enforced. The Slane Bypass Group also expressed disappointment. Minister of State and local TD Shane McEntee said planning for an alternative route for the bypass should begin immediately. However, the National Roads Authority (NRA) said the board’s decision “rejects any proposed bypass of Slane and is focused on a traffic-management solution”. This was “disappointing especially for the people of Slane, but the NRA accepts the decision”. The NRA was told last year to finish planning on all current road schemes and it does not have a budget to prepare a new route.

A Department of Transport spokesman said: “The Minister has asked the NRA to review the matter and return with recommendations in the near future on how to proceed”. But sources said the decision, taken in the current economic context, effectively meant the bypass “will not be built in the next decade at least”.  Speaking to The Irish Times, John Ryle of the Slane Bridge Action Group said the locals were “shattered”. “We don’t see why aesthetics, a view, should take precedence over people’s lives.” Mr Ryle said there were already extensive traffic-calming measures in Slane and a 30km per hour speed limit leading to the bridge, “but nobody obeys it”. “What respect does a runaway truck have for a speed limit, whether it is 30 kilometres or 100 kilometres an hour?” He recalled the death of local toddler David Garvey (2) on the bridge in recent years, and said this had been one of 22 fatal crashes he could recall. He did not want to be a “prophet of doom” but he believed there would be further crashes on the existing route in the absence of a bypass.

Save Newgrange spokesman Vincent Salafia said the group urged Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar, Meath County Council and the roads authority to immediately implement a HGV ban in the village “in order to protect drivers, villagers and the heritage value of the village”. The bypass decision was “a huge victory for heritage and sustainable development in Ireland”.  “The Unesco world heritage site is our most popular tourist attraction, which will play a key role in our economic recovery, and it deserves the highest level of legal protection.”

Slane bypass plan rejected

Letter to the Editor – The Irish Times – Friday, March 9, 2012

Sir, –  After the decision to route the M3 close to Tara when a viable alternative existed, I doubted that the proximity of a Unesco world heritage site to the proposed N2 Slane bypass would influence the planners, whatever about the NRA and Meath Co Council officials.

Happily I was mistaken (Home News, March 8th). It is worth citing part of An Bord Pleanála’s judgment to drive home this point: “The board considers that the proposed development would have a detrimental impact on the rural character, landscape setting, cultural amenity and archaeological heritage of the Brú na Bóinne archaeological complex, and would be contrary to the heritage protection provisions of the [County Meath] Development Plan. The proposed development would, therefore, be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area”.

An important question remains. Why won’t the NRA and Meath Co Council implement a heavy goods vehicle ban to address the genuine and important safety concerns of local residents? After all, the distance between Dublin Port and Ardee is 73km via the M1 and 74km via the N2. – Yours, etc,

Dr JARLATH MOLLOY,
Rue Fabre,
Montreal,
Quebec,
Canada.

Bypassing Slane

Letter to the Editor – The Irish Times – Saturday, March 10, 2012

Sir, – Dr Jarlath Molloy (March 9th) asks why the NRA and Meath County Council do not impose a heavy goods vehicle ban on Slane bridge. Could the answer be that it would be the cheapest and most aesthetically pleasing solution to the problem or could it be that if such a ban were imposed that heavy goods vehicles would be forced to pay a toll on the shorter M1 route? – Yours, etc,

LOUIS O’FLAHERTY,
Lorcan Drive,
Santry,
Dublin 9.

SAVE NEWGRANGE – PRESS RELEASE – 7 March 2012

‘Group Welcomes An Bord Pleanala Decision on Slane Bypass – Calls for HGV Ban’

Save Newgrange welcomes the announcement today that An Bord Pleanala has refused planning permission for the N2 Slane Bypass, in County Meath – and calls on the Minister for Transport, the NRA and Meath County Council to immediately implement a HGV ban of the village.

The group had launched a Facebook campaign, after the route, which was proposed to pass within 500m of the Newgrange/Bru na Boinne UNESCO World Heritage Site, was announced by Meath County Council , in December 2009.

Extensive legal submissions were made by members of the group, to An Bord Pleanala, and numerous high-profile archaeologists, such as Professor George Eogan, Professor Emeritus of Archaeology at UCD, objected to the plan.

The 3.5km bypass was to be part of the larger M2/A5 Dublin to Derry road upgrade, which is still in planning in Northern Ireland, and which is to be the longest road project ever built in Ireland. It had been mooted as part of the St. Andrews Agreement.

Other objections were voiced, regarding the design and funding of the bypass, by Dr. Edgar Morgenroth, Transport Economist with the E.S.R.I., who called it “idiotic.”

Campaign spokesperson, Vincent Salafia, said:

“This is a huge victory for heritage and sustainable development in Ireland.

“This UNESCO World Heritage Site is our most popular tourist attraction, which will play a key role in our economic recovery, and it deserves the highest level of legal protection.

“We urge the authorities to immediately implement a HGV ban in the village, in order to protect drivers, villagers and the heritage value of the village.

ENDS

Contact: Vincent Salafia 087-132-3365

NEWS STORIES:

- The Irish Times – Breaking News – Planning refused for Slane bypass
- RTE News: – Permission refused for proposed Slane bypass
-The Irish Independent – Slane bypass plan rejected as “too close to heritage site”
- BBC News – Slane by-pass planning permission refused
- The Irish Times – Lorry ban sought as plan for Slane bypass rejected

SLANE HGV BAN PETITION

Preamble

22 people have been killed so far in Slane, and 1600 HGVs pass through the village each day, making it uninhabitable for residents, and unattractive for visitors.

Meath County Councillors unanimously voted for a ban on HGVs passing through the village shortly after the last major collision at the end of March 2009, but the County Manager, Tom Dowling, has refused to enforce it.

The proposed N2 Slane bypass, part of the proposed Dublin to Derry road, has been shelved, until at least 2016 – and neither the Council nor NRA has funding to even buy land for it, if planning permission is granted.

This is the only option available – to save lives in Slane.

Petition:

We, the undersigned, call on all Meath County Councillors to vote on a new motion, demanding that the Council implement the HGV ban immediately – and on the Minister for Transport and the NRA to work with the Council to design and implement it.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN PETITION

Background links:

Historical society calls for immediate Slane HGV ban

Slane residents call for HGV ban

Drunk lorry driver ploughed truck into city centre bridge

Kells may look at HGV ban as trucks remain in town

Dublin HGV Management Strategy

Dublin City HGV ban to be extended to 4+ axle vehicle

Experts call for ban on HGVs in Britain's cities to protect cyclists
Heavy goods vehicles involved in 43% of London's cycling deaths

HGV driving bans in Germany

HGV restrictions in France

“Council director of services Des Foley said that if a confirmed CPO was in place, the council would seek funding from the National Roads Authority (NRA) to acquire the necessary land and progress the scheme to construction stage.”

However, in a letter to Maureen O’Sullivan TD, the NRA this week stated that it does not have any money for the Slane Bypass.  Vincent Salafia of Save Newgrange had written to Deputy O’Sullivan in November, asking her to submit a Parliamentary Question on the contradiction between statements being made by the Minister for Transport and Deputy Shane McEntee, a TD for Meath.  The Minister for Transport answered, by stating that he would write to the NRA and find out what the status of the bypass was. He received the following response: This comes in the wake of the announcement that the Department of Transport does not have funding in the Budget for the bypass. Maureen O’Sullivan TD submitted a Parliamentary Question to the Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar in November 2011:

Dáil Question No: 569

To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will clarify the position regarding the Slane by-pass as it is not in the Capital Infrastructure Budget Plan and it appears there is no funding for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

* For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 29th November, 2011.

a government minister has said ‘there is absolutely no change in the position regarding a road bypass for Slane’

Ref No:

36975/11

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and  funding in relation to the national roads programme. The construction, improvement and maintenance of individual national roads, is a matter for the National Roads Authority under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Noting this I have referred the Deputy’s question to the NRA for direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you don’t receive a reply within 10 working days.

An Bord Pleanala decision irrelevant

This all leads to the conclusion that even if An Bord Pleanala does approve the bypass route, which it i expected to early in 2012, there will be no money to even buy the land. It is time that Fine Gael TD for Meath Shane MacEntee admitted that he has not delivered the Slane Bypass, and to begin the process of seeking alternatives that can save lives, until the decision can be revisited in years to come. As recently as 9 November 2011, Minister McEntee has been stating that there has been no change in Government policy, and that there are resources to get the project “shovel-ready”:

Statement by Meath East TD and Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Shane McEntee TD

NO CHANGE TO PLANS FOR SLANE BYPASS

Shane McEntee, TD, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has today stated that there has been no change made to progress plans for the Slane bypass.

“Despite reports of the adjustment to the Government’s Capital Programme for next year, I can state that there is absolutely no change in the position regarding a road bypass for Slane. I understand that here will be no decision by an Bord Pleanala on the matter this side of Christmas. I hope they will give planning approval and, if they do the plan to bypass Slane will continue to progress. There will be a requirement to start purchasing the necessary land within 18 months of approval being granted for a scheme. I have again been assured that the project will be brought through this land purchase stage and this will bring it to ‘shovel ready’ status’.

9th, Nov 2011
Ends

So what now?

It is time for the local and national Governments to return to the decision by all Meath County Councillors who unanimously voted for the HGV ban in Slane in 2009, as a way of saving lives. All parties must now work together to minimise the danger to the local residents and others visiting or driving through Slane.

Save Newgrange is calling on members of the public to write to Meath County Councillors and demand that they lay down a new motion, calling for a HGV ban in Slane, in order to protect the public.

CONTACT  MEATH  COUNTY COUNCILLORS HERE

Balance in the budget

Letter to the Editor – The Irish Times - 28 October 2011

Sir, – With the presidential election debate all but concluded, we can now get back to the pressing matter of the upcoming budget. It is heartbreaking to read of cuts to essential public services, while grandiose, multi-million infrastructure projects, such as the new Dublin to Derry road, proceed.

Age Action is appealing to the Government to reverse fuel cuts, which “is literally a life and death issue for hundreds of older people . . .” (Home News, October 26th).

“Health authorities are cutting funding for homeless services in parts of the capital by up to 10 per cent over the coming winter months, despite growing pressure on services.” (Carl O’Brien, October 26th) Yet, “Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to cross-Border infrastructure programmes, including . . . the main Dublin to Derry road. Mr Gilmore said the Coalition would stand by spending commitments in Northern Ireland estimated at some €466 million.” (Home News, June 4th). This completely contradicts Labour’s pre-election promises. Joe Costello, Labour’s former transport spokesman told concerned groups in January that “Labour would draft a new national development plan if it entered government and every current infrastructure project would be reviewed, ‘no matter what stage of planning it is at’.” (January 14th) He also promised that hearings would be held in the Transport Committee, into the Dublin to Derry road.

But there has been no new cost/benefit analysis of roads projects done, and no hearings in the Transport Committee.

Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar, should examine lower cost alternatives to building a brand new road from Dublin to Derry, like he did with the Metro and Dart. Upgrading the existing road and improving rail is the obvious thing to do.

The lives of our citizens, especially the most vulnerable should be at the top of our Government’s agenda, as we head into the cold winter months.

– Yours, etc,

VINCENT SALAFIA,

Mary’s Abbey, Dublin 7.

PLEASE WRITE TO lettersed@irishtimes.com

PRESS RELEASE -25 October 2011 – SAVE NEWGRANGE

‘Delay of An Bord Pleanala Decision on Slane Bypass Welcomed’

The decision of An Bord Pleanala, on whether or not to grant planning permission for the N2 Slane Bypass section of the proposed new billion euro Dublin-Derry road, has been postponed for a minimum of two months, according to a spokesperson for the Bord.  The decision was meant to be given today, but An Bord Pleanala has revealed that the Inspector, Michael Walsh, has yet to submit his Inspector’s Report, containing his recommendations, which the board needs to consider. This usually takes four to six weeks.

Save Newgrange welcomes the delay, and is re-iterating its demands for:

-    Cost/benefit analysis (CBA) of the Dublin to Derry Road, including the Slane Bypass section. Before the Election, Labour’s former Transport spokesperson, Joe Costello TD, promised Save Newgrange that there would be CBA performed on all roads projects.  Then on 9 Aug, Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar, announced that no new road projects were to start in 2012, 2013 and 2014, including the Slane Bypass. However, the Government is still committed to the deal negotiated by Bertie Ahern, to donate half a billion euro to the NI Authorities for construction of the northern A5 section of the road through NI to Derry.

-    A study of lower-cost alternatives to the new billion euro road. Save Newgrange wrote to Minister Varadkar on 13 September, and asked him to commission a study of lower-cost alternatives to the proposed greenfield Dublin-Derry dual-carriageway, since he commissioned a similar study for the Metro.  The Minister has failed to respond to this request, although he did acknowledge receipt of it, and promised a quick response.

A spokesperson for Save Newgrange said:

“We welcome this delay of the Bord’s decision on the Slane Bypass, and call on the Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar, to use this time to perform CBA on the entire proposed new Dublin to Derry road, including the Slane bypass.

“We urgently call on the Minister to address our request for a study of lower-cost alternatives, which would include upgrading the existing road, and improving rail access to the Northwest.

“Alternatives would hopefully also include a less damaging route and scale for the Slane bypass, as the current one is 500m from Bru na Boinne UNESCO World Heritage Site, and has been condemned by leading archaeological experts.”

ENDS

(Left – right) Ciaran McClean , Aoife Power and Vincent Salafia at a protest outside Leinster House, Dublin against the proposed new 1 billion Euro Motorway A5/M2 between Dublin and Derry.

From there we went to Dame St, and showed our support for Occupy Dame Street.

Then we continued on to the GPO were Martin McGuinness was campaigning on the Presidential trail. Laura Grealish challenged him about Sinn Fein’s failure to object to the Slane bypass, in contrast with their opposition to the M3 at Tara. The story was picked up by the Guardian:

“On Friday afternoon, outside Irish republicanism’s most sacred spot – Dublin’s General Post Office, where the 1916 Easter Rising began – McGuinness was confronted, not for the first time, by members of the public opposed to his politics.  On this occasion, the subject was not his record with the IRA, nor his alleged role in several high-profile atrocities. A cross-community group of environmental activists from Northern Ireland interrupted his canvass on O’Connell Street to object to Sinn Féin support for a new Dublin/Derry road link, which they say will mean the destruction of homes, farms and businesses. One of those who accosted McGuinness was Ciaran McClean, son of Paddy Joe McClean, a prominent activist in the Northern Ireland civil rights movement who was tortured by the British army in 1971.

“I ambushed McGuinness outside the GPO. I asked him why he supported taking half a billion euros out of the Irish economy for a road. His heavies [security guards] weren’t too pleased,” McClean said yesterday.

‘Dublin-Derry Road Groups Protest Budget Plans in Dublin Today’

Roads lobby groups, from both sides of the Border, concerned over the proposed new billion euro A5/M2 Dublin to Derry road, will be staging demonstrations in Dublin today, beginning with a photocall outside Dail Eireann, Kildare, St, at 1.00pm.

From there they will visit the Occupy Dame St Camp, to show support. Then they then hope to engage with Presidential candidates.

The groups are calling on Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar, to pull the funding for the billion euro project in the upcoming Budget, (which includes 500m to be paid to NI authorities), and investigate lower cost alternatives, such as upgrading the existing A5/N2, and re-opening of railway. So fat, the Minister has failed to respond to their letters and requests for a meeting.

- The Alternative A5 Alliance is based in Northern Ireland, and is opposed to the construction of a new greenfield motorway, because of economic, community and environmental concerns.

- Don’t Bypass the Bypass, based in Monaghan, is opposed to the building of another new bypass, since once was recently completed.

- Save Newgrange is opposed to proposals for the Slane Bypass section of the new Dublin to Derry Road, which is to pass within 500m of Newgrange/Bru na Boinne UNESCO World Heritage Site.

All three groups are working in co-operation, in the run-up to Budget Day, on 6 December.

Vincent Salafia of Save Newgrange said:

“We are disappointed that Minister Varadkar has failed to address the economic and environmental concerns we raised with him in September.

“We are also angry about Labour’s broken promises, and forgotten principles.

“Before the Election Labour promised us they would put every capital project through cost-benefit analysis, including this road, but that has not occurred.

ENDS

CONTACT:

Vincent Salafia – Save Newgrange – (087)132-3365
Ciaran McClean – AA5A – +44-7759205468
Noel Murphy -DBB – 087-656-0363

Lobby group welcomes decision to suspend Slane bypass project

The Irish Times – Wednesday, August 10, 2011
By Fiona gartland

A GROUP which lobbied against the Slane bypass because of its impact on the Brú na Bóinne heritage site has welcomed a decision by Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar to suspend its development. Mr Varadkar recently said no new road projects were to start in 2012, 2013 and 2014 and only six projects already under way would be completed this year. The Minister has instructed the National Roads Authority to bring all road projects in planning to the end of their current planning stage and then suspend them with a view to reopening them in the future.

Only the N25 Cork SRR interchanges, the N3 Belturbet bypass, the N5 Longford bypass, the N22 Tralee bypass, the N4 Downs Grade Separation and the N52 Carrickbridge to Dalystown will go ahead this year. The Slane bypass had been the subject of an oral hearing and is currently under consideration by An Bord Pleanála. Local residents in Slane had lobbied for its construction because of the high level of road deaths on and around the town’s bridge. However heritage groups had expressed outrage at the choice of route for the bypass, which brought it close to Brú na Bóinne, a Unesco world heritage site.

Vincent Salafia, spokesman for Save Newgrange, said the group was relieved by confirmation that the Slane bypass was among the projects suspended.
“The county council’s own expert, along with numerous internationally renowned experts, advised against the proposed route because of the damage it would do to the world heritage site,” he said. He called on Meath County Council, the National Roads Authority and the Minister to work together to implement a HGV ban in the village.In a statement yesterday, the Department of Transport said it would be “reckless and irresponsible to spend €20-€30 million a year” to bring roads projects on to their next planning stage when there was no money to build them and they were “struggling to find adequate funds to maintain existing roads”. The same decision was taken for the Luas BXD, Metro North and Dart Underground projects on which €200 million had been spent.

[Write letters to lettersed@irishtimes.com calling for HGV ban]

—-

Fury as bypass put on hold despite grim toll of 22 deaths

Irish Independent – Wednesday August 10 2011
By Breda Heffernan, Elaine Keogh and Paddy Clancy

RESIDENTS are furious that plans for a bypass of Slane have been suspended despite 22 people having lost their lives on a horrific ‘bottleneck stretch of road’. The Irish Independent revealed yesterday that a €50m project to bypass the Co Meath village would be suspended for at least three years due to government cutbacks. The project is currently before An Bord Pleanala which is expected to deliver its ruling before the end of the year.

Concerned residents yesterday said it was “devastating” to abandon the project at this stage. Niamh O’Broin, a local mother of two young children, said safety and preventing deaths is the sole reason for the bypass. “When people talk about this bypass, it is not about how many minutes you can save on your journey from Dublin to Derry. It is synonymous with safety and saving lives, not shaving off minutes in the car.”

Dangerous

The road through the village is particularly dangerous as it has steep inclines on both sides of the River Boyne with a sharp turn on to the bridge in between. Ms O’Broin was involved in a serious accident in March 2009 when a heavy goods vehicle lost control on the top of the hill, causing a nine-car pile-up. “The problems in the village have not gone away despite the 30km speed limit,” she warned. Michele Power, a spokeswoman for the Slane Bridge Action Group, said it would be “devastating” to have the plans shelved, adding, “it would be pennywise and pound foolish with people’s lives”.

Fianna Fail councillor Wayne Harding said it was extraordinary that local Fine Gael TD and Minister of State for Agriculture Shane McEntee, had joined residents on numerous marches demanding a bypass, yet was now part of an administration calling a halt to the project. “If this administration shelves this project, there is every possibility they will end up with blood on their hands,” he warned.

However, Mr McEntee yesterday insisted there was “no change” in the position of the proposed bypass. In a statement, Mr McEntee said the bypass would still be brought through An Bord Pleanala and, if approved, lands would be bought, bringing the project to “shovel ready” status. However, he failed to mention that the project would then be suspended along with dozens of others until funds become available, something Transport Minister Leo Varadkar has already confirmed. Based on current plans, no new road projects will be started between 2012 and 2014. The Slane bypass, a 3.5km stretch of dual carriageway, is estimated to cost up to €50m.

- Breda Heffernan, Elaine Keogh and Paddy Clancy

[Write to independent.letters@unison.independent.ie]

Statement by Shane MacEntee

‘There is absolutely no change in the position regarding a road bypass for Slane, in county Meath’, Shane McEntee TD has said. He continued: ‘I spoke this morning to the Office of the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and I have confirmed with them that there is no change in the progress of the bypass.   This project is currently before An Bord Pleanala.  It will be brought through An Bord Pleanala.  If they approve it, there will be a requirement to start purchasing the necessary land within 18 months of approval being granted for a scheme.  I have been assured that the project will be brought through the land purchase stage as well. This will bring the project to ‘shovel ready’ status’.

Shane McEntee also said: ‘Only three weeks ago Leo Varadkar’s Department met the National Roads Authority and confirmed to them that the Slane by-pass is among the ‘top five’ priority road projects to be completed by them, once planning approval has been received.   The NRA has allocated €2 million to bring the project through to the next stages.   These are the facts in relation to the bypass, contrary to the inaccurate report in today’s ‘Irish Independent’ and the opportunistic statement issued by Senator Thomas Byrne based on that report.’

‘

‘˜Cancellation of Slane Bypass Welcomed – HGV Ban Requested’

The announcement today, that the Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar, has ordered the National Roads Authority (NRA) to halt plans for the Slane Bypass, and 44 other new roads, is welcomed by Save Newgrange.

The group formed in 2009 after it was announced that the preferred route for the dual carriageway bypass was to run within 500m of the Brú na Bóinne UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Speaking to RTÉ Radio One’s Drivetime show this afternoon, Mr Vincent Salafia, a spokesman for Save Newgrange said:

“This proposal has been described as ‘idiotic’ and ‘gold-plated’ infrastructure by Dr Edgar Morgenroth of the ESRI.”

“The County Council’s own expert, along with numerous internationally renowned experts, advised against the proposed route, because of the damage it would do to the World Heritage Site.

“We are calling on Meath County Council, the NRA and the Minister to work together to implement the HGV ban that was passed by Meath County Councillors, in 2009, in order to stop the toll-dodging HGVs and protect the village residents.

“We see this as an opportunity to go back and design a cost-efficient and sustainable, long-term solution that will protect both the residents, and the heritage of Slane. We will be happy to work closely with the authorities to that end.

ENDS

Contact: Vincent Salafia 087-132-3365