Legal action against M3 at Tara planned
Wednesday, 8 September 2004
Campaigners have pledged to take legal action against the part of the proposed M3 motorway which will go near the Hill of Tara.
Vincent Salafia, who has been involved in the Carrickmines battle, says they are preparing legal documents to launch a High Court challenge in the very near future.
He says they are not against the motorway itself, but just the section that will go through the Tara/Skryne Valley area.
The Chairman of Meath County Council, Cllr Tommy Reilly, has branded those opposed to the route a disgrace. He claims that many families are suffering because they spend hours commuting from Meath to Dublin and the motorway would help them.
He also says a company planning on setting up in Navan withdrew when their executives saw the traffic problems on the road to Dublin. The National Roads Authority said they are fully committed to the project.
28 archaeological sites have been discovered between Dunshaughlin and Navan. It is up to the Minister for the Environment to decide what should happen to them, although the NRA said they do not believe any of them are of major significance.
Four consortia have been chosen to take part in the competition to build the road: Eurolink, Celtic Roads, Direct Route and Icon.
The preferred bidder will be announced in September of next year with work on the 60km project starting before the end of 2005.
So far Meath County Council have made 145 offers to landowners worth over ¤30m to purchase property along the route.
