PRESS RELEASE
SAVE NEWGRANGE
26 August 2010
'M2/A5 Dublin-Derry Community Groups to Co-Operate on Motorway Campaign'
Three campaign groups, working on different sections of the proposed M2/A5 motorway, which will eventually run from Dublin to Derry, have agreed to work co-operatively.
Save Newgrange will work in co-operation with the Alternative A5 Alliance, based in Northern Ireland, and the Don't Bypass the Bypass campaign group in Monaghan, to share information and assist the public in participating in the different consultations under way.
The Alternative A5 Alliance are challenging the need for the upgrade of the A5 primary route, from the Border to Derry, which at 55 miles will be the longest single road project ever undertaken in Northern Ireland. Northern and Southern authorities are planning this section of the road together, and the Irish Government has committed to pay for a share of it.
Don't Bypass the Bypass are challenging the need to for the new N2 Clontibret to the Border plan, which will bypass the N2 Monaghan bypass, opened just four years ago' by Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey.
Save Newgrange are opposing the N2 Slane Bypass route, which runs just 500m from the Bru na Boinne World Heritage Site, and impact over 44 archaeological sites. We have challenged the public consultation process as being flawed, since the people of Northern Ireland were excluded.
All three sections of what will eventually be a single M2/A5 motorway from Dublin to Derry, are in various stages of public consultation. The groups are calling on the public, North and South, to participate in the consultation process for each individual project.
All three groups are asking the public to make submissions to Monaghan County Council on the route selection process for the N2 Clontibret to the Border project. Due to public outcry locally, the deadline for submissions has been extended to 31 of August. The cost of making submissions is free, and they can be emailed to the council's Roads Division.
Lynne Smyth, Secretary of the Alternative A5 Alliance said:
"Its great to be working in co-operation with the other groups, and we need to remain so going forward. We are calling on all members of the public to make submissions to Monaghan County Council, and challenge this outrageous waste of taxpayers' money."
Vincent Salafia of Save Newgrange said:
"We are delighted to have North-South co-operation between our community groups along the proposed M2/A5. The people of Northern Ireland should have a say in what happens to the Brú na Bóinne Unesco World Heritage Site, since they are being asked to pay for part of the road that will severely impact it."
"We welcome the intervention of Dr Edgar Morgenroth, associate economist with the ESRI, who said the N2 plans are "idiocy', and called for the HGV ban to be implemented in Slane.
"Minister Dempsey must act now to both save lives in Slane, and stop wasting taxpayers' money on 'ghost roads'.
Press Release Issued by: Tom Elliott MLA Date: 24 August 2010 SERIOUS DOUBTS OVER FUNDING OF NEW A5 WESTERN CORRIDOR ROAD- ELLIOTT Ulster Unionist Assembly member for Fermanagh & South Tyrone, Tom Elliott MLA has expressed his continuing serious concerns over the funding of the new A5 road between Aughnacloy and Londonderry after Irish Transport Minister, Noel Dempsey TD announced this week that he has informed the National Roads Authority to re-prioritise 123 projects in the Irish Republic as funding must be reduced to £654m a year from 2011. Tom said: “I expressed my concerns as far back as November 2009 over the funding of this road and Minister Conor Murphy MP stated that the Irish Government has agreed to stump up some £320m of the overall cost of £800m and the rest coming from Northern Ireland Executive future budgets. I wish now to establish from the Irish Transport Minister, Noel Dempsey TD if he is still committed to devote half of his entire budget on a Northern Ireland road at the expense of their own roads and also establish from Conor Murphy if we have the necessary funds to continue with this scheme. Projects, ranging from motorways to town by-passes are being examined and an admission by Irish Government that many major schemes could be delayed for decades. The A5 undoubtedly needs huge improvements but the traffic levels simply do not justify a motorway and many have expressed their strong views over the impact this road will have on the countryside and many farmers will have their farms decimated when an upgrade would be sufficient. If Ministers on both sides of the border wish to prioritise future spending there needs to be a complete re-think on this route and indicate immediately if this scheme in its present form is to go ahead. The continuing uncertainty over finances and anxiety for land owners cannot continue.” Ends
‘Ghost roads’ being advanced with false data - An Taisce
http://buckplanning.blogspot.com/2010/08/roads-authority-criticises-ghost.html
BADGERS SAVE THE FOYLE VALLEY FROM DESTRUCTION
VIDEOS FROM CLIMATE CAMP
Eamonn McCann part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BT3OW2g4IcM&feature=channel
Eamonn McCann part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xs8ZZXD2XzM&feature=channel
Eric video interview
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92v6iLZD0pg&feature=channel
MONAGHAN THREATENED WITH ENVIRONMENTAL DESTRUCTION
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0819/1224277150127.html
The Alternative A5 Alliance is an ‘umbrella’ for the growing number of individuals and groups who are opposed to the building of a new dual carriageway in Tyrone – the A5WTC.
The view of the Alliance is that, at a time of economic crises and serious environmental issues, the last thing Northern Ireland needs is another road. Transport in this country is responsible for around 30% of CO2 emissions compared with 21% in GB. Building this new road will only increase those emission levels.
We call on the responsible members of the government who are involved in transport decisions to look again at the sustainable options available before committing the residents of this county to a future marred by the destruction of farms and homes, lives and livelihoods - caused by this unwise project. We ask them also to consider the vast destruction of our natural ‘carbon sink’ – the fields and trees of Tyrone – for the sake of a theoretical saving of 20minutes journey time.
This website investigates the many arguments against the A5WTC but it also points to a sustainable alternative which should be investigated -
The continued upgrading of the existing A5 and also the restoration of the rail link from Portadown. We call it the Tyrone Rail Road alternative.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, TO HAVE YOUR NAME ADDED TO THE PETITION PAGE,OR TO BECOME A FRIEND OF THE ALLIANCE EMAIL: alliance@alternativea5alliance.com
SPENDING ON LOCAL ROADS IS CUT BUT THE A5WTC GOES ON!
http://www.tyronecon.co.uk/articles/news/14004/uncertainty-reigns-over-omagh-district-roads-budget/
Cllr Robert Mulligan's letter in the Ulster Herald points up the A5 monster road disaster! - http://www.nwipp-newspapers.com/UH/free/326335184556326.php
And here's another interesting article - http://sluggerotoole.com/2010/06/03/terror-in-tyrone-%E2%80%93-white-elephant-alert/
A word about the Tyrone Rail Road too - http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=111857