This article is from page 19 of the 2012-06-19 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 19 JPG
CONSTRUCTION work on the controversial Clare section of the Limerick Northern Distributor Road will not begin until 2025 at the earliest, according to Clare County Council’s leading Engineer.
Senior Council engineer, Tom Tiernan said yesterday that the road – which has prompted local protests in the Parteen, Ardnacrusha and Clonlara areas – was now an aspirational project and something that will affect the “next generation” of residents in the south east Clare area.
“This is not a road for the present. If this was on the table four or five years ago, it may well have materialised very quickly. There was a different definition of ‘future’. We would have to be very optimistic to see that this road would be accommodating traffic in 10 years. That would be extremely optimistic,” said Mr Tiernan.
“We have to hope that this economic situation will turn around but it seems very clear that this [road] will not be done for the foreseeable future. But we have to plan for it. If we don’t plan for it, then other areas of the country will be ahead of us when things do turn around.
“This is a very substantial scheme, which should have positive spin-offs for the region as well. But really we are talking about the next generation and not the current one.”
Local Cllr Cathal Crowe (FF) also raised concern over the pubic consultation process for the development, saying that the ESB were allowed to consult on the project on an ongoing basis while the public were only allowed two “insensitive” chances to have their opinion heard.
“The playing pitch was unequal at times. Talks with the ESB were ongoing where as Joe Soap in the public was given just two chances to have their say, and they were very insensitive times where they had to go into a hotel in front of all of their neighbours to say their piece,” said Cllr Crowe.
According to Tom Tiernan, the ESB were spoken to on an ongoing basis because of the “serious consequence” that the road could have for their operations.
“People are upset, it is impossible to develop a road scheme of this nature without upsetting some people,” he said.
“We have to consult with people, we have to be as fair as possible in how we deal with people. Once a route is selected, once funding begins to materialised for the purchase of property, we have to realise that people are being disenfranchised by this scheme.”