Historical society calls for immediate Slane HGV ban
Slane residents at a previous protests against HGVs travelling through the village want an immediate ban put in place.
MEATH Archaeological and Historical Society (MAHS) made a detailed submission to the oral hearing of the N2 Slane Bypass proposal last week, including calls for an immediate HGV ban.
The submission was presented by MAHS John Clancy PRO, who made six key points for consideration by An Bord Pleanála.
He proposed that the HGV ban on through traffic through Slane village must be brought into effect immediately.
This ban was called for in the society's original letter of observation in February 2010 and it was noted then that the Meath County Council resolution to ban HGV through traffic in April 2009 had still not been acted upon.
He pointed out on behalf of MAHS that the bypass has been in preparation for the last 8-10 years.
'Nobody is holding this up apart from the NRA and Meath County Council,' he said.
'Since publication of the proposal in December 2009, this planning inquiry has been repeatedly delayed due to the fact that the NRA and Meath County Council had provided insufficient information to the Board.'
He said the society believe there is still insufficient information in the documentation for the Board to reach an informed decision on the proposal.
'No archaeological experts on the Bru na Boinne World Heritage Site were consulted or asked to advise during the route selection or EIS process,' he told the oral hearing.
'The location of this road will act as a definition of the western boundary to the World Heritage Site without the requisite archaeological evaluation having been carried out: no experts on World Heritage Sites were consulted to advise on the procedures and considerations to be taken into account in locating such a major development so close to a World Heritage Site of this nature.'
He said the appointment of a World Heritage Sites expert (Dr Douglas Comer) at the insistence of An Bord Pleanala, immediately prior to the opening of the oral hearing, is a clear admission that there are alarming deficiencies in the proposal.
'We also believe that if the decision is made to locate the bypass as set out in the present proposal, then the height of the new bridge crossing the River Boyne should be lowered – as was proposed in the 2005 final route selection report,' added Mr Clancy.
'The 2005 report recommended a bridge height 10m over the valley floor whereas the present proposal is for a bridge height of 21m over the valley floor.'
He said the lower bridge would have a significantly less visual impact on the 6,000 year old Bru na Boinne landscape and this was something the society was in favour of.
