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Cabinet Approval sought for Meath MASTER
Plan
Breakthrough Sustainable Development Plan Solves M3 Legal,
Environmental & Heritage Issues
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CABINET approval is sought for the
new Meath MASTER Plan
(Model Archaeological and
Sustainable Economic Region) - 
an
advanced development plan that solves the current legal,
environmental and heritage issues around the controversial M3
motorway, and which also provides a wider model for sustainable
economic, heritage and tourism development in Meath.
The
innovative plan, which has been briefed to the media, avoids
re-routing the M3 as it uses much of the current road scheme
"footprint". By switching to the existing N3 in the
sensitive Tara-Skryne Valley area, it preserves the threatened
Lismullin monument and other archaeological sites, automatically
resolving the EU legal issues whilst still providing
much-needed bypasses of Dunshaughlin and Navan. It further
prioritises the much-sought after rail link to Navan and Kells and
provides for new coach services, thereby also cutting traffic and
harmful CO2 and other emissions. A HGV ban in the valley would
further cut traffic volumes and air and noise pollution.
The
plan also facilitates the designation of the region as a UNESCO
World Heritage site, resulting in the preservation, protection and
sustainable management of the archaeology in the valley while
bringing a potential increase of €75 million in tourism
revenue per annum. Development in the designated region would be
eco-designed and promoted on a small scale, in line with recent
guarantees by the Minister for the Environment to protect the
unique character of the area
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Under the plan the M3 motorway is
retained to Roestown, north of Dunshaughlin, then switches to a
less costly "2+1" upgrade of 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 current M3 alignment, and continue also in the 2+1
format, to Carnaross, beyond Kells.
The developers of the
plan, Mr. Brian Guckian and Mr. Tadhg Crowley, stressed that
although the NRA has recently moved away from the "2+1"
format as a preference for appropriate road upgrades, it remains
an approved design option and has been used without problems in
other European countries such as Sweden and Denmark, with a 50%
reduction in fatal crashes in the case of the former. They
further stated that their context for the use of 2+1 in the
Tara-Skryne Valley was different, with use of the format
being made possible by the reduced traffic volumes brought about
by the rail and coach transport elements of the plan.
The
road would also 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.
The
land within the Tara-Skryne Valley purchased for the M3 would be
held in state ownership and designated for heritage
interpretation and protection. The extent of the World Heritage
site area would 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.
Mr.
Crowley and Mr. Guckian indicated today that they had submitted
the MASTER Plan to the Ministers for Transport and the
Environment, and that elements were also relevant to the Minister
for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and the Minister
for Arts, Sport and Tourism. But full cabinet approval was being
sought due to the national and wide-ranging importance of the
proposal. Details have also been sent to Meath Co.
Council.
"This is a powerful, creative and
responsible intervention in an issue that has caused great
distress both nationally and internationally", they said
today. "It is something that everyone can have ownership of,
and we are very positive and excited about it".
Backing
for the new proposal is now being sought from all parts of the
political and public spectrum, both nationally and
internationally.
To view summary click
here
Contact:
Brian Guckian 087
9140105 railprojects@eircom.net
Tadhg Crowley 085 7159013
tadhgcrowley@gmail.com
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Public Presentation Septermber 20th. Venue Dalgan Park. For
details click
here
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Ireland links page
http://sacredireland.org/linx.html
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