New Sustainable Development Plan for Meath Provides Way Out for M3 Legal Issues

international | environment | press release

Wednesday August 29, 2007 21:41

by Brian Guckian & Tadhg Crowley

A RADICAL breakthrough by promoters of sustainable development and archaeological and cultural heritage involved in the campaign to save the Tara-Skryne (Gabhra) Valley has been announced today, and represents a "win-win" solution for all sides, they say.

PRESS RELEASE

New Sustainable Development Plan for Meath Provides Way Out for M3 Legal Issues

Campaigners seek National and International Support for Innovative Economic and Heritage Plan for Region

For Release 29/8/2007

A RADICAL breakthrough by promoters of sustainable development and archaeological and cultural heritage involved in the campaign to save the Tara-Skryne (Gabhra) Valley has been announced today, and represents a "win-win" solution for all sides, they say.

The Meath MASTER Plan - standing for Meath Archaeological Sustainable and Economic Region - is an advanced development plan that would be a model for sustainable economic development in Ireland, deliver a state-of-the-art transport network for Meath, preserve and develop heritage in the region and facilitate greatly increased tourist activity.

The plan also solves the current legal issues around the M3 motorway, preserves the Tara Landscape, provides much-needed bypasses of Dunshaughlin and Navan, cuts CO2 emissions and avoids any re-routing. Importantly, it could be carried out immediately without rendering the existing road works redundant, according to its promoters, and would permit the designation of the region as a UNESCO World Heritage site, with all the economic and developmental benefits that this would bring.

A key element of the MASTER plan is that the M3 motorway is retained to Roestown, north of Dunshaughlin, then would switch to an upgraded "2+1" format on the existing N3 ("2+1 Through the Valley") as far as the currently-threatened amenity of Dalgan Park. North of Dalgan Park, the road would re-join the M3 alignment, and continue also in the "2+1" format, to Carnaross, beyond Kells.

The new road would be toll-free as the modifications to the motorway would save very significantly on the capital costs, which would then be used to buy out the PPP contract, and the tolls.

At the same time, the long-awaited Navan rail link, for which design work is currently in hand, would be brought forward for rapid implementation, and would have its northern terminus at Kells. Other sustainable transport features would include upgraded high-capacity and high-frequency coach services. The transport elements of the plan have been estimated to generate environmental benefits of at least € 114 million per annum.

The land within the Tara Valley purchased for the M3 would instead be held in state ownership and designated for heritage interpretation and protection. The extent of the World Heritage site area would also encompass the five major centres of Navan, Kells, Trim, Dunshaughlin and Slane, bringing a major tourist and economic dividend for the region, the promoters say.

The Meath MASTER Plan has been researched and developed by independent transport researcher Brian Guckian and environmental campaigner Tadhg Crowley, who have been involved in ongoing efforts to save the Tara-Skreen Valley. They will stress that the development framework draws upon the ideas of local and national groups over the last number of years, as well as the very latest concepts in sustainable planning and development.

The campaigners are seeking backing for the new proposal from all parts of the political and public spectrum, both nationally and internationally. Full details are being made available to the press and the public today.

ENDS