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By Gerry Slevin
The submission of completed questionnaires for the proposed N7 Nenagh-Limerick motorway are being submitted under protest.
According to Barry Gleeson on behalf of he Local Communities Steering Group representing all local action committees in Silvermines, Ballinahinch, Ballywilliam, Boher, Ballymackeogh,. Cooleen, Cragg, Annaholty, Birdhill, Castleconnell and Ahane, in an open letter to Kieran Hegarty and Michael Tobin of the NRA, they are being put on notice that due to the inadequacy of the public consultation process and the failure of the NRA/Local Authorities to provide proper information, they are handing in their submissions under protest.
Mr Gleeson states that there is an obligation under the Road Needs Study and the National Development Plan including a basic principle under the partnership for Prosperity and Fairness, to provide effective public consultation on projects of this nature.
“We formally request in light of the failure to achieve this fundamental objective that this consultation process be repeated in a manner which is more appropriate and treats the public as a social partner and a client. The principle of the ‘common good’ demands democratic accountability which has not been apparent to date. This issue will not go away simply because you proceed further down the road, it will only deteriorate”, he adds.
Mr Gleeson says that road improvements will continue to be required in a developing economy. With a just, transparent and properly planned approach, these can be achieved with widespread local, regional and national goodwill and be beneficial to all. Under the current approach it is quite clear that the goodwill will be destroyed and a potential environmental, socio-economic and human disaster threatens. It is not too late to review this, and there is no justifiable reason why more time should not be allocated to this crucial part of the process.
He says that the community at various pubic meetings have agreed unanimously not to cooperate with any officials of the NRA/Local Authorities, their agents or sub-contractors as they attempt to progress these proposals. Their cooperation is withdrawn until concerns with regard to the planning and implementation of all road improvement schemes are addressed.
Gerry Slevin
Nenagh
Guardian
Saturday
August 4th 2001
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