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August 28, 2001
By Seán McCárthaigh
Irish Examiner
THE introduction of tolls on the planned Kinnegad-Enfield-Kilcock motorway will cost commuters to Dublin an extra £20 a week, it was claimed yesterday.
Opponents of the new motorway outlined their objections at an oral inquiry in Mullingar to plans by the National Road Authority to charge car users £1.65 to use the new 35 kilometre road.
Two county councils, the Irish Road Haulage Association, An Taisce, as well as a number of business and community groups in Enfield, are opposing the controversial decision to impose a toll on the planned M4 motorway between Kinnegad and Kilcock.
It is due for completion in 2005 under a public private partnership, at a cost of £215m.
The inquiry, chaired by independent inspector Kevin O’Sullivan, heard that such charges would place an unacceptable financial burden on residents of Meath and Kildare who travel every day to work in Dublin.
Although Mr O’Sullivan can make recommendations on the NRA’s plans, the ultimate decision on the cost and location of tolls remains with the authority.
Cllr Patrick Prendergast, for Meath Co Council, said tolls would act as a deterrent to vehicles using the motorways as they would inevitably revert to using existing roads.
“The imposition of tolls would place an unacceptable financial burden on people living in Co Meath. The addition of up to £20 per week to existing motoring and living costs is unacceptable,” he said.
Sarah Carey, representing the Enfield Traders Association and a local residents group, said it was unfair that the inquiry was being conducted under the direction of the NRA.
She also criticised the NRA for its refusal to meet public representatives, as well as its failure to provide copies of objections to the toll scheme to the public in contravention of instructions by Mr O’Sullivan.
Ms Carey said plans to place additional toll booths on the M4 at Enfield would have a detrimental effect on businesses and residents in the town. “People who wish to leave the motorway, do some business in Enfield and resume their journey, will have to pay two tolls,” she said.
Most critics of the tolling scheme highlighted the existing delays caused by the toll bridge at the West Link bridge in Dublin as a reason for keeping the M4 free of charge.
Others claimed the tolling of the M4 was discriminatory, as other towns like Balbriggan and Arklow had been bypassed without the imposition of tolls.
However, the NRA insisted the scheme would significantly reduce journey times and accidents on the Kinnegad-Kilcock corridor, as well as improving the environment in towns and villages along its route.
NRA traffic planning consultant Michael MacNicholas predicted that less than one in five vehicles would divert off the motorway when it was opened in 2005.
Under the Roads Act 1993, the NRA is obliged to hold a public hearing when there are objections to the draft toll scheme for a road.
The Kinnegad-Kilcock motorway is one of 11 road schemes identified by the NRA as being suitable for tolling under public private partnerships
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