Public consultation on bypass threat to Bend of the Boyne World Heritage Sites reopened
New round of public consultations ordered for proposed Slane bypass
http://www.savenewgrange.org/2010/09/20/the-irish-times-new-round-of-public-consultations-ordered-for-proposed-slane-bypass/
The Irish Times – Monday, September 20, 2010
FRANK McDONALD Environment Editor
A NEW round of public consultations on controversial plans for a dual-carriageway bypass of Slane, Co Meath, has been ordered by An Bord Pleanála, with October 15th set as the closing date. A public notice advertising the new round of consultations was published recently in national newspapers. The original consultation period closed on February 25th last.
An Bord Pleanála had sought additional information from Meath County Council on the road scheme, including whether an alternative route running to the west of Slane had been examined. The current proposal, which is being advanced on behalf of the National Roads Authority (NRA), would run to the east of Slane, some 500 metres from the boundary of Brú na Bóinne World Heritage Site.
The appeals board also sought alternative designs for a new bridge over the river Boyne, noting that the cable-stayed bridge originally proposed would be visible from the World Heritage Site. It also wanted the council to produce more detailed archaeological and geophysical reports on investigations of 44 archaeological sites that would be affected by the original scheme.
The information was sought "in order to clarify certain points in the environmental impact statement [EIS] and assist the board's assessment of the likely effects on the environment" of the road. This followed complaints to An Bord Pleanála by the Save Newgrange group, former attorney general John Rogers SC and leading archaeologist Prof George Eogan that the EIS was flawed.
Save Newgrange spokesman Vincent Salafia said: "We will be waging an international campaign over the next month, particularly in Northern Ireland, to get as many objections as possible filed with An Bord Pleanála."
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Tara endangered, says Smithsonian
PATRICK LOGUE
Saturday, February 28, 2009
ONE OF the most respected educational and research institutes in the United States has listed the Hill of Tara among the 15 must-see endangered cultural treasures in the world.
The Tara complex in Co Meath, the ancient seat of the High Kings of Ireland, has been the subject of controversy because of the nearby construction of the M3 motorway.
The March edition of the magazine published by Washington's Smithsonian Institution says "the clang of construction equipment can be heard at the Co Meath site nowadays. The Smithsonian features 14 other "precious historic and artistic sites" around the world which, it says, "can be visited today, but might be gone tomorrow".
"Each testifies to our urge to build and create; each reminds us of how much we stand to lose," says the Smithsonian.
Other sites listed include the reputed birthplace of Jesus Christ, the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem; Chan Chan in Peru, the largest city in the Americas about 600 years ago; and the crumbling Route 66 across the US.
Campaigners say the M3 will cut through one of Ireland's most important historical sites, but the National Roads Authority says the new motorway will be farther away from the hill than the existing route. The motorway is scheduled to be finished in the middle of next year.
Last month the Hill of Tara was listed among a number of locations which have been nominated for inclusion on a list of possible Unesco world heritage sites.
Vincent Salafia of TaraWatch, who is quoted in the Smithsonian article, said it "should send a clear message to both the Irish Government, and Unesco, that they cannot proceed with inscribing the Hill of Tara as a world heritage site, unless the M3 is rerouted."
The Smithsonian Institution is the world's largest museum complex and research organisation.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0228/1224241986012.html
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Leading archaeologists to debate 'ethics' of Tara road
A PRESTIGIOUS forum of the world's leading archaeologists is to debate the "ethics" surrounding a decision to build a motorway near the Hill of Tara.
In what could prove to be highly embarrassing for the Government, the World Archaeological Congress is to hold a public debate on whether a decision to run a motorway through one of the country's most sensitive archaeological sites was merited.
The M3 motorway is expected to be completed in two years. Since the final route was announced, academics worldwide and a group of campaigners living in the Tara Skryne Valley have criticised the decision.
The World Archaeological Congress will meet in Dublin from June 29 next.
- Irish Independent - Saturday June 07 2008
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/leading-archaeologists-to-debate-ethics-of-tara-road-1401303.html
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Archaeology event to discuss Tara
Irish Times - breaking news
Last Updated: 06/06/2008 19:59
The Hill of Tara will be debated by leaders in the world of archaeology at an international conference next month.
A round-table session in Dublin about the ethics of the construction of the controversial M3 motorway will form part of the Sixth World Archaeological Congress (WAC-6).
The non-governmental group - the only archaeological organisation with elected global representation - holds an international convention every four years to promote the exchange of archaeological research, professional training, and the conservation of archaeological sites.
The M3 Motorway/Hill of Tara will be one of two themes debated by the WAC Ethics Forum during the event at University College Dublin from June 29th to July 4th.
Vincent Salafia of TaraWatch, which will submit a position statement for the debate, said campaigners are delighted Tara will be addressed by an impartial international forum of this calibre.
"The Tara/M3 issue has received massive international attention . . . but the debate in Ireland itself has been very muted, especially within professional archaeological circles," he said.
"This debate is going to be explosive, as there are a lot of reputations riding on this issue, and positions have become very entrenched on both sides."
PA
http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/0606/breaking74.htm
NEW SAVE TARA PETITION TO UNESCO, ICOMOS AND WAC-6 http://www.savetarapetition.net
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