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

4NI News – 09 December 2010

Although contractors have already been signed up, political developments have cast doubt on a promise made by the Dáil Government to give £400m (€500m) to the Stormont Executive to upgrade the A5/M2, Dublin to Londonderry Road as part of an £850m scheme.  Those groups in NI who oppose the huge Strabane to Derry upgrade on environmental and cost grounds may therefore have been handed an early Christmas present.

Last summer, protestors against the dualling of the A5 road from Aughnacloy to Londonderry even ‘set up camp’ along the route and said the environmental impact far outweighed any shortened journey time. Most of the N2 to N14 upgrade from Monahan to Letterkenny lies within NI, but news from the Irish Republic’s Labour Party may mean that after an anticipated change of government in Dublin, money earmarked by Brian Cowen’s current ruling coalition may be running out of road.

The original promise was made at the time of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement, and has since been renewed by Mr Cowen’s Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey.
Ironically, as the public consultation and Environmental Statement for the A5 dual carriageway, to be built from the N2/Border to Derry, and on to Letterkenny was published, Labour’s Transport Spokesman, Joe Costello, said: “Ireland is in the worst recession in the history of the State.

“Spending one billion euro on a new road from Dublin to Derry including a €500 million spend in Northern Ireland will certainly not be a priority for the Labour Party while essentials such as health and education are being savagely cut. “The Labour Party has made it clear that we will be revisiting the National Development Plan and Transport 21 in the context of the present state of the public finances. A realistic cost benefit analysis will be applied to every project,” he said.

Should Labour form a substantial part of any new Dáil administration in 2011 after the coming elections, Mr Costello said: “We are no longer in a position to fund the road in the South, so how could we fund the northern section?” Now, experts are predicting that if the Republic fails to deliver the €500m then the Stormont Executive could only proceed if all other road works in NI are halted for five years and therefore may be forced instead to settle for a partial redevelopment, or to defer the contract. That’s despite contractors being appointed already and land having been identified for vesting to make way for the work to begin next year for an estimated completion in 2015.

The NI A5 protestors are not alone in the pre-festive boost either as the Irish Republic’s Save Newgrange group has also been campaigning for years against possible damage to ancient heritage sites.  A spokeswoman said: “We welcome Labour’s response to the pre-budgetary survey and their promise to perform a new cost/benefit analysis on the Slane bypass and the A5 upgrade.  “We will be updating our EU Complaint, on the basis that there should have been cross-border public consultation for both ends of this single ‘transboundary project’.

‘Shelving of N2 Slane Bypass Welcomed by Campaigners’

Save Newgrange welcomes the shelving of the N2 Slane bypass, and is calling for the An Bord Pleanala planning process to be cancelled. The N2 Slane bypass was not included in the Four Year Budget Plan, released on Wednesday, 24 November. However, An Bord Pleanala has since indicated that it is proceeding with an oral hearing, as part of the planning process.  An Bord Pleanala has stated that the proposed oral hearing will take place some time early in the New Year; probably “next February”. However, if planning permission is granted, after the hearing, it will be over four years before construction can begin. This will mean that planning permission will be out of date.

The upgrading of the N2 Ashbournce to Ardee section of the N2 has already been shelved, so it doesn’t make any sense to continue with this section in the middle as a stand-alone 3.5km dual carriageway. Over 100 objections have been filed against the bypass, including evidence from leading archaeologist, Professor George Eogan, that the proposed route will result in the loss of World Heritage statue for Newgrange (Bru na Boinne).  Evidence that ESRI economist Dr Edgar Morgenroth has deemed the bypass an “idiotic” waste of taxpayers money has also been submitted to the board.

Vincent Salafia of Save Newgrange said:

“There is no point in proceeding with a lengthy and expensive planning hearing if there is no money to build the road.  It is outrageous that we will be forced to spend time and money attending a lengthy oral hearing, with expert witnesses, if all of the data being used will be out of date in four years.  We are calling on the Minister for Finance, Brian Lenihan, and the Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey, to immediately reign in the NRA and Meath County Council, and end this farce.

ENDS

ROADS

Irish Independent – Four year budget plan special feature
29 November 2010 – By Paul Melia

MOTORISTS can expect to drive on poorer roads because of massive spending cuts.
And no new projects will go ahead during the lifetime of the four-year recovery plan, unless new sources of funding are identified. New tolls, hikes in motor tax and private investment will be needed to improve thousands of kilometres of dangerous roads, which will not be upgraded in the coming years.

And in another blow to road safety, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has been ordered to make cuts of 5 million in its budget – or introduce higher driving test fees and other charges. The move comes because of the Department of Transport has had more than 500m taken from its budget up to 2014.

Just four projects will go ahead in 2011 – the Belturbet, N5 Longford and Tralee bypasses, and the Cork Southern Ring Road. Two public private partnership projects are expected to go ahead – the N11 Arklow Rathew/Newlands Cross upgrade, and the M17/18 Gort-Tuam Road.

Shelved

But there will be no major schemes starting in 2012 or 2013. This means the N5 Ballaghadreen bypass, N4 Downes upgrade, N2 Slane bypass, N22 Macroom to Ballycourney, N8/N25 Dunkettle roundabout, and Enniscorthy/New Ross bypasses are shelved. Road Maintenance budgets will fall by 9 million next year – with deeper cuts expected up to 2014.

Some 360 million is needed to repay the costs of building our motorway network.
But the cancelled motorway service areas could yet go ahead: money has been set aside to buy land beside busy motorways, and the private sector will be asked to build the facilities.
Already in place on the M1 and M4, more than a dozen were planned across the State but cancelled because of cutbacks.

In a separate move, commuters could face higher bus and rail fares unless public transport companies cut their costs. Subsidies to Bus Eireann and Dublin Bus will be cut by 10 million next year. Subsidies to the regional airports are also being phased out. Some 5.5 million will be cut next year, in a hugely significant move for smaller airports.
The EU says airports within a three-and-a-half hour journey by road and rail from the capital cannot qualify for subsidies. The State currently spends 15 million subsidising the cost of flights and helping to meet day-to-day running costs.

SAVE NEWGRANGE – PRESS RELEASE – 18 November 2010

“Funding NI A5 Upgrade and Slane Bypass not a Priority for Labour Party”

The Labour Party has cast doubt over whether it will keep the promise made by the current Government to give £400 (€500m) to the Northern Ireland Executive to upgrade the A5/M2, Dublin to Derry Road, which also includes the Slane bypass. The promise was made at the time of the Belfast Agreement, and has been renewed by Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey.

Public consultation on what would be the biggest road ever built in Northern Ireland began yesterday with the publication of the Environmental Statement for the A5 dual carriageway, to be built from the N2/Border to Derry, and on to Letterkenny. The deadline for public comment closes 21 January 2011.

Labour Transport Spokesman, Joe Costello, TD, responded yesterday to a pre-Budgetary survey by Save Newgrange, saying:

“Ireland is in the worst recession in the history of the State. Spending one billion euro on a new road from Dublin to Derry including a €400 million spend in Northern Ireland will certainly not be a priority for the Labour Party while essentials such as health and education are being savagely cut.

“The Labour Party has made it clear that we will be revisiting the National Development Plan and Transport 21 in the context of the present state of the public finances. A realistic cost benefit analysis will be applied to every project.

“Moreover we are reviewing the entire Transport policy with a new emphasis on urban and rural public transport.

Tom Elliot, Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) leader, yesterday told The Belfast Telegraph:

“It would seem from the latest communiqué of the North-South Ministerial Council that ministers have agreed a payment schedule for the project, but I still consider that this amount of money would be better spent on other important projects in the health and education sectors.

“I share the views of many of the people on both sides of the border that the project should be scaled down to a more modest version — this could be achieved at a fraction of the cost.”

Vincent Salafia of Save Newgrange said:

“We welcome Labour’s response to the pres-budgetary survey and their promise to perform a new cost/benefit analysis on the Slane bypass and the A5 upgrade.

“We will be updating our EU Complaint, on the basis that there should have been cross-border public consultation for both ends of this single ‘transboundary project’.

“It is very telling that the Green Party and Fine Gael both declined to respond to the pre-budgetary survey.

ENDS

NOTE TO EDITORS: A pre-budgetary survey was sent to all of the political parties on Thursday, 11 November, and responses were to be returned by 5.00pm yesterday, 17 November. The Labour Party was the only party to respond. The complete survey is available at www.savenewgrange.org.

MORE INFORMATION:

A5 Western Transport Corridor – Environmental Statement

Belfast Telegraph: It’s time to scale back £844m road, urges UUP leader

The Irish Times – Tuesday, October 12, 2010

A PREVIOUSLY unrecorded “impressively large earthwork” – believed to be part of the outer defences of an early medieval royal stronghold at Knowth, in the Boyne Valley – has been identified by an archaeological survey. The survey, commissioned by former attorney general John Rogers SC, has been submitted to An Bord Pleanála as additional information as part of its consideration of plans for an N2 bypass running east of Slane, Co Meath.

Carried out by archaeologists Joe Fenwick, Gerard Dowling and Roseanne Schot of the Brú na Bóinne Research Project, the survey found the earthwork at Crewbane, near the home of Mr Rogers, who is objecting to the bypass. It was prompted by the discovery in 2007 of a souterrain in Crewbane, at the perimeter of the Brú na Bóinne Unesco world heritage site “buffer zone” 2km east of Slane village and 1km from the prehistoric passage tomb of Knowth.

“This impressively large earthwork is not recorded in the Sites and Monuments record for Co Meath,” the archaeologists say. It presents a “massive facade” when approached uphill from the south, averaging 4m in height and extends over a distance of 23m. “It is apparent that the Crewbane souterrain is not an isolated archaeological monument in the landscape, but one element in a complex of archaeological features situated on and around this prominent ridge overlooking the river Boyne. “These include a second and possibly third potential souterrain, a substantial linear embankment, a circular enclosure [of] 40m in diameter [a possible ring fort], a relict field system and associated open settlement of possible medieval or early modern date . . . ”

They speculate that the complex “might have served as a defensive outpost protecting the western flanks of the royal stronghold at Knowth”, saying it was “unfortunate” that it straddles the western boundary of the Unesco world heritage site buffer zone.  “It is likely, however, that had this complex been known at the time the world heritage site perimeter was being drafted, its influence would have extended its perimeter somewhat further to the west and northwest,” Mr Fenwick has told An Bord Pleanála.

In a letter to the board, he acknowledged that an alternative route of the bypass running west of Slane would also have a large number of “significant impacts” on the archaeological, architectural and cultural heritage of the area, including Slane Castle demesne. Mr Fenwick suggested that the “only realistic option” was to ban heavy goods vehicles entirely from the village and provide an east-west corridor to the north of Slane, to redirect this traffic towards “the new and underutilised” M1 and M3 motorways.

The consultations end on Friday.

PA Newswire: Ireland – September 16, 2010 Thursday 5:51 PM BST
BYLINE: Sarah Stack, Press Association

Campaigners tonight vowed to rally opinion against a controversial bypass after planners ordered a council to reopen public consultations. The Save Newgrange group said the move was a victory for those against proposals to run the N2 Slane bypass close to historical sites of Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth in Co Meath. Meath County Council confirmed it was told by An Bord Pleanala to reopen the public consultations after additional information was requested on an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Compulsory Purchase Order.

Vincent Salafia, of Save Newgrange, revealed the group had complained the EIS and public consultation were flawed.  “This is a victory for the public, who were not given the full information in relation to this grandiose proposal, and yet who are expected to foot the bill,” he said.  “We will be waging an international campaign, over the next month, particularly in Northern Ireland to get as many objections has possible filed with An Bord Pleanala.” Activists claim the road – proposed to run 500m from the Bru na Boinne heritage site – will impact over 44 associated archaeological sites, as well as a candidate Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Mr Salafia said he hopes more experts will now make submissions against the scheme.

In a statement, Meath County Council said the new consultation was based on the additional information it furnished to An Bord Pleanala in July.  “As expected, they have now informed us that they consider that the further information supplied contains significant additional data and that the public should be afforded the opportunity to comment on it,” it said. “Provision for this process is made in the Roads Act 1993 and the further information supplied will assist the board in its deliberations on the proposed development.” Notices are due to appear in local and national newspapers in the coming days

Road lobbyists team up with southern counterparts

Londonderry Sentinel | 23 September 2010

A LOBBY group opposing the proposed A5 Western Transport Corridor (WTC) between Londonderry and Aughnacloy has teamed up with campaigners in Monaghan and Meath to oppose what it terms “ghost roads” on both sides of the border. Three campaign groups – the Alternative A5 Alliance (AA5A), Save Newgrange (SN) and Don’t By the Bypass (DBTB) – working on different sections of the proposed M2/A5 motorway, which will eventually run from Dublin to Londonderry, have now joined force

AA5A is challenging the need for the upgrade of the A5 primary route, from the border to Londonderry, which at 55 miles will be the longest single road project ever undertaken in Northern Ireland. Authorities on both sides of the border are planning this section of the road together, and the Irish Government has committed to pay for a share of it.

Lynne Smyth, Secretary of the Alternative A5 Alliance said: “The Alternative A5 Alliance is delighted to be able to cooperate with the other campaign groups along the route of this proposed road. Together we must alert the people of Ireland to the catastrophe these ‘ghost roads’ will cause. “This is not the time to be tarmacing over our farmland and natural habitat. It is time to seek a sustainable transport option which will serve our future needs as well as that of our grandchildren – as they will be paying for it.

Noel Murphy, a spokesman for Don’t Bypass the Bypass, said: “Its great to be working in co-operation with the other groups, and we need to remain so going forward.”

Vincent Salafia of Save Newgrange said: “We are delighted to have North-South co-operation between our community groups along the proposed M2/A5. The people of Northern Ireland should have a say in what happens to the Brú na Bóinne Unesco World Heritage Site, since they are being asked to pay for part of the road that will severely impact it. We welcome the intervention of Dr Edgar Morgenroth, associate economist with the ESRI, who said the N2 plans are ‘idiocy,’ and called for the HGV ban to be implemented in Slane. Minister Dempsey must act now to both save lives in Slane, and stop wasting taxpayers’ money on ‘ghost roads’.”

Meath Chronicle | Wednesday, 22nd September, 2010
Profile by Ann Casey

Additional information on the proposed Slane Bypass is now on public display, following a request earlier this year from An Bord Pleanala for further information on the scheme. The information is on display in County Hall in Navan, Meath County Council’s Road Design office at Navan Enterprise Centre and at the Civic Offices at Main Street, Duleek, until 15th October. Submissions on the scheme must be forwarded to An Bord Pleanala by 15th October.

Cllr Wayne Harding said the proposal for the Slane Bypass could only be enhanced with public input and the more information that is available to people, the better. “People will now have the opportunity to make submissions to An Bord Pleanala as the public information requested by them will go on display until 15th October,” he said. “It is vital that we get the best possible bypass for Slane as it will have a huge impact on the village and the wider Boyne Valley area.” Cllr Harding pointed out that the people of Slane had campaigned long and hard for the bypass, so it was essential that it is progressed without delay. “The safety issues are well documented with the dangers of heavy vehicles going through the village very evident. A bypass would give peace of mind to residents and visitors to the village, but would also benefit local business as additional people would be encouraged to travel to the village in the absence of congestion and dangerous roads. This is another step on the way to the most important piece of infrastructure that Slane village has had since its foundation 250 years ago,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Save Newgrange campaign welcomed the new public consultation for the N2 Slane bypass. Vincent Salafia of Save Newgrange said: “This is a victory for the public who were not given the full information in relation to this grandiose proposal, and yet who are expected to foot the bill. “We will be waging an international campaign over the next month, particularly in Northern Ireland, to get as many objections has possible filed with An Bord Pleanala. Dr Edgar Morgenroth of the ESRI has called this plan an ‘idiotic’ waste of taxpayer’s money, and we hope more experts like him will make now make submissions. “In the meantime, we are demanding that Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey, keep his promise to ‘actively facilitate’ the HGV ban in Slane, which was unanimously voted for by county councillors in April 2009,” Mr Salafia added.

WRITE LETTER TO EDITOR ken@meathchronicle.ie

‘N2 Slane Bypass Consultation Re-opens – Western Route Options Published’

The NRA and Meath County Council have today re-opened public consultation on the proposed N2 Slane Bypass, after being ordered to do so by An Bord Pleanala. The public can make or amend submissions to the Bord until October 15 2010.

The western route options for the proposed bypass, which impact Slane Castle, have been published, along with other additional information requested by An Bord Pleanala – including the potential impact on Brú na Bóinne Unesco World Heritage Site and archaeological reports on the sites that will be impacted by the bypass, if it proceeds.

Save Newgrange has already sent this information to the European Commission, to amend the complaint that was registered by the Commission in June of this year. The complaint states that the ‘preferred’ eastern route is too close to Bru na Boinne, passing on 500m from the site – and that the proposed bridge over the Boyne impacts too severely on the Boyne candidate Special Area of Conservation (SAC), which is protected by EU law.

Save Newgrange is also sending this information to a number of other international bodies, including Unesco, World Monuments Fund, and the World Wildlife Fund, in a bid to build an international coalition of concern.

Vincent Salafia said:

“The western route will protect Bru na Boinne and Newgrange, Newgrange is known globally as the oldest building in the world, but will impact on Slane Castle.

“If it comes to a choice between passing 500m from Slane Castle or 500m from Bru na Boinne, it is a no-brainer. But neither important site should be damaged.

“We support the views of ESRI economist Dr Edgar Morgenroth, who recently called the bypass an ‘idiotic’ waste of taxpayers’ money, when a simple HGV ban would solve the traffic problems in Slane, and force HGVs to use the M1 – which is only 5 miles away.

“We call on Minster Dempsey to keep his promise, made last year, to implement the HGV ban, which was voted for unanimously by Meath County Councillors in April 2009.

ENDS

Contact – Vincent Salafia 087-132-3365

MORE INFORMATION

Additional information and maps:

Revised Non Technical Summary Pdf (6 mb)

Further Information Requested by An Bord Pleanála Volume 1 Pdf (25 mb)

Further Information Requested by An Bord Pleanála Volume 2 Pdf (38 mb)

New Unesco web site for Bru na Boinne

INSTRUCTIONS FOR MAKING SUBMISSIONS

According to the legal notice published in The Irish Times and other newspapers in Ireland, on 17 September 2010:

“Submissions or observations in relation to the additional information may be made in writing on payment of a fee of 50 euro to:

An Bord Pleanala, 64 Marlborough Street, Dublin 1

not later than 5.30pm on the 15th October 2010. Telephone 01-858-1000

SAVE NEWGRANGE – PRESS RELEASE – 16 September 2010

‘New consultation on N2 Slane bypass a victory for the public’

Save Newgrange welcomes the new public consultation for the N2 Slane bypass, which is proposed to run 500m from the Brú na Bóinne UNESCO World Heritage Site, and impact over 44 associated archaeological sites as well as a candidate Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

An Bord Pleanala (ABP) has ordered Meath County Council (MCC) to publish additional information, and re-open the public consultation for fresh submissions, due to the submission of an incomplete Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) by MCC last December.

MCC will publish a new public notice in national newspapers tomorrow, Friday, 17th September, giving the public until Friday 15th October to make submissions to ABP.  The original consultation had closed on 25 February 2010.

The additional information relates to:

• Archaeological and geophysical reports on investigations carried out
• Whether any alternative route, west of the village, had been considered
• Relationship to N2 Ashbourne and Ardee project (suspended)
• Alternative designs for the proposed Boyne bridge, which is visible from the World Heritage Site

The additional information being published by MCC comes in response to a letter from ABP to MCC in June, asking for this information, “in order to clarify certain points in the EIS and assist the Board’s assessment of the likely effects on the environment of the proposed road development.”  The information was requested after complaints were made to An Bord Pleanala by Save Newgrange and others that the EIS and public consultation were flawed.

Vincent Salafia of Save Newgrange said:

“This is a victory for the public, who were not given the full information in relation to this grandiose proposal, and yet who are expected to foot the bill.  We will be waging an international campaign, over the next month, particularly in Northern Ireland, to get as many objections has possible filed with An Bord Pleanala.

“Dr Edgar Morgenroth of the ESRI has called this plan ‘idiotic’, and we hope more experts like him will make now make submissions.  In the meantime, we are demanding that Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey, keep his promise to ‘actively facilitate’ the HGV ban in Slane, which was unanimously voted for by County Councillors in April 2009.

ENDS

Contact: Siobhain Rice 086-734-2070
Vincent Salafia 087-132-3365

FURTHER INFORMATION:

Letter from ABP to MCC asking for additional information – June 16 2010

An Bord Pleanla file on N2 Slane bypass

Meath Chronicle – Minister for Transport, Dempsey promises to “actively facilitate” HGV ban

Irish Times – 14 June 2010 – Appeals board to look at Slane bypass