An order issued by An Bord Pleanala which effectively gives the go-ahead for the Ardee Bypass has been warmly welcomed by Fine Gael TD, Fergus O’Dowd and his party colleague Councillor Dolores Minogue but local environmentalists say they are outraged and will do all in their power to get the decision reversed.
“Cllr Dolores Minogue and I have been waiting anxiously for a final decision to be made by the independent board, any direction to carry out further assessments would have pushed the project even further away from commencement” Deputy O’Dowd said.
“Ardee Town is currently choked with congestion and the people of Ardee have demanded that this issue be resolved, the fact that this vital project will now satisfy the public spending code requirements from an environmental standpoint is very positive news.
“The town has suffered greatly as a direct result of significant traffic congestion over the last number of years. This has had a major impact on its economic and social development and the pollution resulting from traffic has also had significant impact on air quality and the health of the citizens of Ardee.
“An Bord Pleanala are independent specialists who determine whether a project meets environmental standards and thresholds, we are delighted that they have confirmed that this project will not significantly impact any of the local conservation and protection areas.
Cllr Minogue said the decision was “really terrific news for the residents and businesses of Ardee.”
“Since normal traffic volumes have resumed we have seen the town at an absolute standstill with it taking upwards of an hour for some residents to get from one side to the other. Local Taxi men have informed be that they no longer operate at peak traffic times due to the delays in journey times, this is an example of how extreme the situation has become.”
However, the Friends of Ardee Bog say they were “disappointed and outraged” by the decision which they said is “part of an egregious pattern of planning in this country that ignores Ireland’s natural resources and unique heritage.”
They said that they will not give up the struggle and will “…continue to do everything necessary to protect Ardee Bog and the endangered Curlews. We will seek a judicial review and go to the European Court if necessary.
“Ardee’s traffic comes from the N2, not the N52. That is where we need a bypass!” they said, adding that this is not just about Ardee.
“This is a matter of ecocide, climate justice and inter- generational justice” they said. “We are facing a planetary emergency. We do not have time for dithering. Enough of this short-term exploitative mindset!
“Ardee Bog plays a vital role in mitigating the effects of climate change by storing vast amounts of carbon. Irish peatlands store dramatically more carbon than agriculture or forestry. Our bogs need to be protected at all costs.
“Ardee Bog took 10,000 years to form. Friends of Ardee Bog will continue to do all that we can to protect it. Every little attack on the land is one more nail in the coffin for the human species and the planet.”
