http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0122/1224262843423.html
Irish Times, 22 Jan 10
Slane bypass to run close to Boyne heritage sites
The bypass will be built close to the Brú na Bóinne Unesco World
Heritage Site, which includes Knowth and NewgrangeThe bypass will be
built close to the Brú na Bóinne Unesco World Heritage Site, which
includes Knowth and Newgrange

ELAINE KEOGH

THE NATIONAL Roads Authority has confirmed that the proposed route of
the bypass of Slane village will pass some 500 metres “from the
perimeter” of the buffer zone of the Brú na Bóinne Unesco World Heritage
Site.

The road, which will be a dual carriageway, will have “the least impact”
taking all factors into consideration, including the archaeology and
heritage of the area, a spokesman said.

It will be 3.5 kilometres long and run to the east of the village, which
is on the heavily used N2 linking Dublin with Derry and it has been the
scene of at least 22 fatal traffic crashes in living memory.

Included in the scheme is a new bridge over the river Boyne which will
be about 200 metres long.

The environmental impact statement has been published and submissions on
it are being accepted by An Bord Pleanála, which will decide whether to
grant permission.

Bypass Slane Campaign group spokeswoman Michelle Power said, “we welcome
the plans and look forward to the day permission is granted and funds
are allocated for its construction.

“After numerous fatal accidents human life must take precedence,” she added.

Brian Taylor, spokesman for An Taisce in Meath and a resident of Slane
said: “I’d be very reluctant about anything that might hold up that
road. It has been several years in the offing and it has gone through
numerous public presentations and the route chosen appears to be the
least offensive [one].”

A spokesman for the NRA said, “we have selected a route with the least
impact. It is 1.5 kilometres from the core of the Brú na Bóinne and
around that centre core is a buffer zone; this route is 500 metres from
the perimeter of that buffer zone.”

However, the statement does say that also within 500 metres of the route
are 44 archaeological and cultural sites. The next stage is for An Bord
Pleanála to decide whether to hold an oral hearing into any objections
or submissions on the proposed route.
=====================
Irish Independent, 22 Jan 10
Bypass will run 500 metres from Newgrange complex
By Paul Melia and Elaine Keogh
Friday January 22 2010
THE proposed route of the Slane bypass in Co Meath will run just 500
metres from the edge of the ancient Newgrange complex.

The National Roads Authority (NRA) yesterday released an environmental
impact study for the route which shows that although it skirts the
perimeter of the Bru na Boinne complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it
would be almost 3km from the famed burial chamber at Newgrange.

Planning permission for the 3.5km dual carriageway has been sought from
An Bord Pleanala, and the NRA said the proposed route would have the
"least impact" on the archaeology and heritage of the area.

It is planned to run to the east of Slane village, which is on the busy
N2 road linking Dublin with Derry and has been the scene of at least 22
fatal traffic accidents in recent years.

Included in the scheme is a new bridge over the River Boyne, which will
be around 200 metres long.

Bypass Slane Campaign group spokesperson Michelle Power said: "We
welcome the plans and look forward to the day permission is granted and
funds are allocated for its construction. After numerous fatal accidents
human life must take precedence."

Brian Taylor, of An Taisce in Meath, said the route seemed to be the
"least offensive" option. Documents for the planning application show
there are 44 archaeological and cultural sites within 500 metres of the
route.

Officials from the Department of the Environment have contacted UNESCO
to make them aware of the application, and the department will make a
submission to An Bord Pleanala in the coming weeks.

Environment Minister John Gormley said it would have to be proven that
the road would not impact on Bru na Boinne, which includes Newgrange,
Knowth and Dowth.

"Any proposal that would damage or impact on the World Heritage Site
status is not acceptable," he said.

- Paul Melia and Elaine Keogh

Irish Independent

TV coverage here:
http://www.rte. ie/news/2010/ 0121/slane. html

Slane Bypass

image is of poor quality, will have better image soon!

"...Tara WAS the line in the sand, get away with that then the deluge - this
is the deluge. People will be really really sorry they didn't stand up
for Tara, now nothing, but absolutely nothing is sacred...".

Slane Bypass Publications

NRA

The NRA is delighted to announce the imminent publication of Places Along the Way: first findings on the M3, edited by Mary B Deevy and Donald Murphy. More info go to NRA site

Archaeology

Section 2 - Tara

M3 Clonee- North of Kells Contract 2 Dunshaughlin-Navan (PDF)

Tolls

Dempsey must resign - call by Save Tara campaigners

Save Tara campaigners are calling for the resignation of the Minister for Transport, Mr. Noel Dempsey, over the issue of the tolling of the M3 motorway. Campaigners have being drawing attention to the fact that the road was to be tolled twice for years now but the message has fallen on deaf ears until recently when a letter (Meath Chronicle, 18th. July) from the campaign again drew attention to the fact that Ferrovial made a sweetheart deal with the Government under which the Toll company would be compensated by the Taxpayer if traffic levels did not reach the specific/expected targets. (Campaigners have also drawn attention to the fact that the tolling period is 45 years and not 30 as reported widely in the press.)

The traffic figures on the existing N3 are dropping yearly since its peak in May '06 when it reached 19,042, the latest figures available are for March '09 and they have fallen by nearly 3,000 to 16,279. These figures will continue to fall as Meath now records the highest job losses in the country. Unemployment has risen by 116% in a year and the total unemployed in the county now stands at 11,498.

In the coming years there will be less people moving to Meath for housing as the prices in Dublin continue to fall - the rise in the population of Meath was mainly due to Dubliners who could not afford to live in their own county due to high house prices. Given a choice, commuters will chose to live in neighbouring Kildare where there are no tolls and there is a decent alternative public transport system from the commuter towns of Maynooth and Leixlip in particular.

As far as an alternative public transport system for county Meath is concerned, this deal with Ferrovial means that the Government now has a conflict of interest vis a vis the rail option and the M3 motorway. Any proposal for any public transport alternative for Meath commuters will be handicapped by the necessity for the Government to consider the damage such proposals might inflict on traffic volumes on the M3. As an example - the site of the Pace railway station (after the Toll Plaza on the M3) demonstrates this point graphically - you can have the rail alternative but not until you first pay the toll on the M3.

Muireann Ní Bhrolcháin said: "The indignation expressed by the Meath TDs is laughable. They knew perfectly well that this road was to be tolled twice from the very beginning - nearly 10 years ago. Noel Dempsey must resign, not just for presiding over this present debacle but also for his continued involvement in this crazy project that has destroyed, for financial gain, the most precious of Ireland's landscapes".

ENDS

Media queries:
Muireann Ní Bhrolcháin
Tel: 087-9249510
Carmel Diviney
Tel: 087-6100771
E-Mail: info@savetara.com
Web site: http://www.savetara.com

Related links:
Baron Wince, the M3 and the lords of incompetence.
Furure over motorway 'tolls bailout' for Eurolink.
Taxpayer will have to foot bill for M3 toll shortfall.
Paying the price for M3 tolls.
Ferrovial Annual Report 2008.
Motorway Tolls Shock For Local Drivers.
Remember these pictures?.

Tara Reburials

Sign the Petition

To: Irish Government

PETITION

We the undersigned, strongly oppose the destruction of the Ancient Graveyards at Ardsallagh, and Collierstown and the digging up of individual graves along the proposed M3 Motorway Co. Meath.

We demand that the remains of our Ancestors be buried in a dignified manner and as much as possible in the ceremonial layout of the original graveyards. This has also been called for in the recent Press Release by the World Archaeological Congress in Dublin.

Quote:

“Recognising that the reburial of ancient remains in Ireland is subject to the provisions of the National Monuments Act and the agreement of the National Museum of Ireland, the World Archaeological Congress also draws attention to the Vermillion Accord on human remains and suggests that any human remains excavated from the cultural landscape of Tara should be re-interred with due respect as close as possible to their original locations, as this is where these people would have wished to be buried”

WAC 11-July-08

We oppose the undignified dumping of cremated and skeletal remains in plastic containers at warehouses, for purposes unknown.
The destruction of these graves goes against the living customs of the Irish people and is an infringement on the Religious and Cultural beliefs of our Ancestors.

Yours sincerely,

Sincerely,

Meath Master Plan - Power Point Presentation Click Here!