Almost 12 years since An Bord Pleanála refused planning permission for a bypass of Slane Village, Meath County Council has submitted new and more ambitious plans for a bypass and Public Realm Enhancement Scheme including a 3.5km long road and 258m bridge over the Boyne to bypass the traffic-choked village.
If ever there was a village that suffered from the negative and damaging effects of traffic, especially HGV traffic, it is Slane. Over the years excessive traffic has had a huge impact on the social and economic lives of the people of Slane, there have been many collisions and tragically, numerous fatalities also.
Since the 2012 knockback from ABP the Council’s plans have evolved significantly as the Project Team embarked on a process to improve and refine the design of this much needed scheme.
They have taken account of the previous reasons for refusal as well as the many recent changes to design standards, government policies and environmental legislation, as well as undertaking extensive consultation during all stages of the process.
To achieve the optimal solution, the decision was taken to include the relevant public realm proposals from the Meath County Council (MCC) Public Realm Plan into the N2 Slane Bypass project.
Aims of the Scheme
- To enhance the village centre as a viable, vibrant and attractive location for people to live, work and visit by implementing the Public Realm Enhancement Scheme in the village.
- To remove the existing ‘bottleneck’ at Slane from the national road network and thereby improving the overall efficiency of the network for enhanced regional and rural connectivity.
- To provide safer transport infrastructure in Slane and on the wider strategic road network.
- To provide active travel connectivity locally and regionally through the provision of dedicated walkways and cycling routes for the benefit of both residents and visitors alike.
- To improve environmental quality in Slane village, particularly with regard to air quality emissions, traffic noise and vibration emissions and levels of traffic.
- To support the economy by providing businesses with access to a reliable and connected transport network.
- To provide improved facilities for reliable and safer road-based public transport.
- To support sustainable mobility through provision for electric charging infrastructure to encourage the use of electric vehicles and reduce carbon emissions.
The statutory process has now commenced, and legal notification has been posted to all property owners from whom property is to be acquired and those with a legal interest in those lands. The legal notification comprised of an individual letter and a server map (drawing showing lands to be acquired).
A copy of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) and Natura Impact Statement (NIS) as well as the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) Maps and Schedules may be inspected at the offices of Meath County Council (MCC) during the display period 6 December 2023 to the 16 February 2024.
Submissions may be made in writing to An Bord Pleanála at any time during the display period.
Further information is available on www.n2slanebypass.ie.
