The Tara Bypass – what they won’t tell you
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Minister to press ahead with Tara route for motorway
http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/front/2005/0331/3585315857HM1TARA.html
Minister for the Environment Dick Roche intends to allow the controversial M3 motorway to proceed through the Tara-Skryne valley in Co Meath by issuing licences for archaeological excavations along the route. Frank McDonald, Environment Editor, reports.
Mr Roche’s imminent move follows receipt of an 18-page letter from director of the National Museum Dr Pat Wallace, who makes it clear that he is against the chosen route and, in particular, a proposed interchange to the north of the Hill of Tara.
Dr Wallace’s view that the motorway would have a “demeaning” impact on the Tara landscape was echoed in a statement issued yesterday by more than 80 academics and scholars worldwide appealing to the Government to change the route.
However, the Minister told The Irish Times last night there was “no way” he could revisit a decision made by An Bord Pleanála in August 2003 to approve the present proposal.
“I am where I am,” he said. “This has gone through the planning process.”
He accepted, however, that a decision by him not to issue licences for archaeological excavations would leave the National Roads Authority and Meath County Council with no option but to find an alternative route for the tolled motorway.
Dr Wallace’s letter deals in detail with each archaeological site that would be affected by the present route, before going on to express grave concern about the visual impact of the proposed M3/N3 interchange at Blundelstown, a mile north of Tara.
Mr Roche said he would take this on board by seeking to have its impact mitigated in some way, even though he believed this was outside his statutory remit.
“I will be asking my department to prepare a detailed response to the issues he has raised.”
Asked if he was concerned about legal challenges to his decision, the Minister said he assumed there would be, “so what I have to do is to make sure now that all procedures are properly followed to extent that is humanly possible”.
Three of the leading scholars on Tara – Dr Edel Bhreathnach, Mr Conor Newman and Mr Joe Fenwick – said a decision by Mr Roche to allow the M3 to go ahead “will be recorded and remembered as a very dark moment in the history of Tara”.
They said the Minister knew “full well that it goes against the advice of the heritage profession”, which was concerned that “this unique landscape will be cleaved in two and engulfed in concrete by secondary development commercial gain”.
In their statement yesterday, 85 academics and scholars from around the world said Tara’s landscape was “of special significance and of international importance”, and queried whether it was enlightened to “cut a motorway through it”.
They said the existence of a wider landscape beyond the Hill of Tara “can be clearly deduced from Ireland’s extensive medieval historical and literary sources. To deny this wider definition of Tara amounts either to ignorance or wilful misinformation.”
Appealing for a “mature approach” to balancing infrastructural needs and heritage protection, they asked:
“If the motorway is constructed as currently planned, what does that say to the world about the cultural sensitivity of the Government?”
Ends
http://www.rte.ie/news/2005/0331/m3.html
Roche to decide on archaeological licences
31 March 2005 16:31
The Minister for the Environment, Dick Roche, has said he will make a decision in a few weeks’ time on whether to issue licences for archaeological excavations along the controversial route of the M3 motorway through the Tara-Skryne Valley.Mr Roche said that no decision would be made before he responded to the Director of the National Museum, Pat Wallace, who has raised concerns about the planning and landscaping of the route.
The Ulster Unionists today expressed concern at reports that the minister was to grant the licences. The general area is of historical significance to unionists as the Battle of the Boyne took place in the Boyne Valley, which extends to the Tara Valley.
@RTE INTERACTIVE wrote:
http://www.rte.ie/news/2005/0511/m3.html
Roche clears way for M3’s construction
11 May 2005 15:15
The Minister for the Environment, Dick Roche, has cleared the way for the construction of the M3 motorway by issuing directions to Meath County Council on how archaeological work is to be conducted.Speaking at a press conference this afternoon, Mr Roche said that stringent conditions would apply.
Commenting on a controversial interchange 1km north of the Hill of Tara, the minister said the National Roads Authority was putting in an alternative lighting scheme and extensive landscaping.
He added that in order to protect the landscape around Tara he told Meath County Council to ensure that the new development plan protected the rural character and archaeological heritage of the area.
Given concerns that massive developments would take place along the new motorway, the minister said he would consider using his powers to direct the council to amend its plan if it was not up to standard.
The controversial project was approved by An Bord Pleanála two years ago, but many archaeologists and historians have argued that part of Ireland’s most important heritage site will be destroyed.
The Director of the National Museum, Dr Pat Wallace, had submitted a report to the Environment Minister in which it is reported he opposed the routing and, in particular, an interchange north of the hill.
Well here in Tarapoto it was always predicted that Roche was going to make this decision, Dick really is the poto of tara
Regardless of the pros and cons of the situation, this decision means both sides lose.
Legal objections are going to tie up progress for years to come. (In Ireland, and then, failing that…the European courts). Plus the added huge expense (on top of building it in the first place!) of contracting out the significant excavation work, entailing significant numbers of archaeologists, to eventually excavate the route. We know through geophysical survey, that there are at least 26 ‘sites’ of archaeological interest along the contentious part of the proposed route. (14.5km section from Dunshaughlin to Cannistown.)
Why are the government building this motarway if they know that it will be delayed for years and over-budgeted by millions (or even billions)?
@Paul Clerkin wrote:
Regardless of the pros and cons of the situation, this decision means both sides lose.
Legal objections are going to tie up progress for years to come. (In Ireland, and then, failing that…the European courts). Plus the added huge expense (on top of building it in the first place!) of contracting out the significant excavation work, entailing significant numbers of archaeologists, to eventually excavate the route. We know through geophysical survey, that there are at least 26 ‘sites’ of archaeological interest along the contentious part of the proposed route. (14.5km section from Dunshaughlin to Cannistown.)
not just archeological sites, we are talking about sites that should be un sanctioned world heritage sites, these are the most important archaeological sites in Ireland by some distance.
I agree;
it does seem strange that the Skelligs are a World Heritage Site but Tara is not, Tara is definitely much more of a cultural icon.
1200 metres which is a lot closer than it needed to be, make no mistake if this road gets built the County Council will rezone adjoining lands because of its special ‘access qualities’ for development and a sprawl will emerge much closer than 1200 metres of the road.
The Hill of Tara is special because of its setting remove the setting and its quality and significance will be diminished greatly, the selection of this route against all professional advice will leave the schemes promotors with a lot of explaining as particular elements that I have disagreed with over both the glen of the downs and Carrickmines Castle use every avenue open to them to stop this project or delay it for 5 or more years in their attempts.
One cannot compare the impact a two lane road that has evolved over time with natural screening in the form of trees and hedgerows with a heavily engineered six lane highway with all the associated drainage works. Page 7 of the NRA document clearly displays the crossing of the existing N3 at two points between Dunshaughlin and Navan the rationale it would appear is to open lands close to Tara up for development. Surely it is much more complicated and expensive to cross an existing National Primary Route twice and would result in much higher disturbance levels during construction than selecting a route that remains entirely to the West of the existing N3. It is worth noting that on the entire route North of Dunboyne to the end of the scheme at Kells this is the only time that the N3 is crossed, Meath commuters while sitting in roadworks can thank the NRA for their vision.
Yes but Paul, what kind of precedent would it send if the government was to say: “this is the best route for the M3, but because environmental nutters are going to make our lives a misery for the next five years and delay the project in the courts, we’re going to move it elsewhere.” It would be a huge victory for the anti-road lobby, without them having to spend a penny or a day in court, and it would fuel their campaigns against other bypasses and motorways.
No, let them do their worst in court. A la Carrickmines and Glen of the Downes, the road will get built in the end and by-passing motorists will wonder what the hell the fuss was ever about
In relation to the 26 archaeological sites of interest, the question is how important are any of them? Should the march of a nation be held up because a Celt once sharpened a stone in a particular field? I think a site should be more than just “of interest” before a lot of money is spent excavating it…
@Sue wrote:
Yes but Paul, what kind of precedent would it send if the government was to say: “this is the best route for the M3, but because environmental nutters are going to make our lives a misery for the next five years and delay the project in the courts, we’re going to move it elsewhere.” It would be a huge victory for the anti-road lobby, without them having to spend a penny or a day in court, and it would fuel their campaigns against other bypasses and motorways.
No, let them do their worst in court. A la Carrickmines and Glen of the Downes, the road will get built in the end and by-passing motorists will wonder what the hell the fuss was ever about
In relation to the 26 archaeological sites of interest, the question is how important are any of them? Should the march of a nation be held up because a Celt once sharpened a stone in a particular field? I think a site should be more than just “of interest” before a lot of money is spent excavating it…
we are talking about a site that was the centre of Ireland for more than 2,000 years.
So the whole centre of Ireland has to be preserved? Give me a break, the road goes nowhere near the Hill of Tara. The current N3 is far closer
And who is the “they” in the title of this thread? Why do people forever attribute conspiracies to some vague “they” as if the people have no control of their own destinities. Most people actually want the M3 where it is, which is why it’s being built there.
As the people of France have just shown, “we” are in charge not “they”. Vive la revolution. On with the road building!!!!
Sue,
are you really trying to compare a two lane road with a six lane motorway in terms of impact, that is like someone calling a three storey building a high-rise
They’re totally comparable. A motorway has one extra lane. So it’s nothing like comparing a three-storey with a high rise
Its a complete disgrace this country is actually planning on building a motorway 1.2 km from its most important historic site. Couldn’t they just deviate it a bit!!
Absolutley not, there are two additional lanes plus a vastly wider hard shoulder plus a margin division, plus a margin for future expansion to an 3 + 1 arrangement plus there are flyovers which are visually intrusive on the basis of height.
It is like comparing a Cessena with a 747
Sue, I can only regard your comment ;
“No, let them do their worst in court. A la Carrickmines and Glen of the Downes, the road will get built in the end and by-passing motorists will wonder what the hell the fuss was ever about”
as highly flippant and also quite irrelevant. Once the road is built, cleary nobody can do anything about it, it does not mean that a motorist using the road will not care or believe it was a whole load of fuss about nothing, they may still be feeling what a shame it was to lose something so important in our heritage despite the road being of benefit to them. Like Wood Quay, you don’t find people still protesting on the streets because the damage is long done. However perhaps people like myself still shake a sad head at what might have been.
Do you really feel people need to be labelled as “environmental nuttersâ€, I have to wonder what your motivation is in being so pro obliterate-anything-sacred! I really don’t think that it can be that black and white, hate it or love it. It just seems like there is an attitude of “plough it down – who care’s!†Is it not possible that some might see the road as being a great advantage to many and (so “they†say) our economy, yet also be hopeful that it could be built without obliterating a national jewel like Tara?
Naomi,
That is possibly the most sensible analysis of the situation I have heard yet.
@Sue wrote:
So the whole centre of Ireland has to be preserved? Give me a break, the road goes nowhere near the Hill of Tara. The current N3 is far closer
And who is the “they” in the title of this thread? Why do people forever attribute conspiracies to some vague “they” as if the people have no control of their own destinities. Most people actually want the M3 where it is, which is why it’s being built there.
As the people of France have just shown, “we” are in charge not “they”. Vive la revolution. On with the road building!!!!
Sue,
The government in France proposed the referendum, the Minister for the Environment here is proposing the M3, how could this possibly be construed as Viva La Revolution?
They are the numerous academics and concerned individuals from Ireland and beyond who see our heritage as taking precence over a particular routing of a Motorway.
When Mickey was talking about the centre of Ireland he was talking about the Centre of Administration, Centre of Cultural development, The Centre of religion. Not the Central plain of Ireland.
@NRA wrote:
In the case of the M3 this would simply not be practical because of the numbers of existing homes and businesses along the route and it would cause unacceptable and economically costly disruption to traffic over a Every effort was made to avoid all known sites during the route selection process. Extensive studies were carried out to identify any potential new sites previously unknown. Indeed, in the case of M3 the road was moved to avoid three such sites. this would simply not be practical
If the route stayed on the Eastern alignment from Clonee and crossed North of Navan it would only cross the N3 once or it could have joined the N3 north of Kells and eliminated construction disturbance altogether.
http://www.nra.ie/Archaeology/DownloadableDocuments/d1413.PDF
@NRA wrote:
There is every probability that the area of land being taken into the “] and in the case of the M3 it would not be acceptable because it would bring the development closer to the Hill of Tara – the planned M3 is further from the Hill of Tara than the existing road.
This is a direct admission that no proper Heritage evaluation was carried out as an EIS must identify all potential effects on Heritage.
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