Kells man disrupts M3 work in protest

Work on the M3 at the Cavan Road in Kells was disrupted for a period last Thursday when a local man protested at the NRA's refusal to screen off the new road from his home and garden. Wayne Gilsenan said he had never at any stage opposed the motorway's promiximity to his home, but he is furious now that the NRA has refused to build a concrete barrier to shield his home from the new road. "My house is overlooked by the traffic and all I want is a single concrete fence to shield off the noise and maintain my privacy, but the NRA are refusing to do this," he said. Mr Gilsenan said it was a concern for his family and, particularly his small son, that prompted him to take action last Thursday. He parked his car on the new road, disrupting the roadworks for over an hour in a bid to highlight the problems his family are facing. "My family's privacy and security are my main concern. When the NRA acquired a small piece of my land for the roadworks they said they would leave my property in a 'respectable fair way' but they are not doing this," he said. Mr Gilsenan said he knows of other properties further from the new road which have had these structures provided. He said he has not been able to allow his three year-old son out to play while the roadworks were ongoing and now feels unless this barrier is provided, he will never be able to let him outside to play. "Cars passing by can see straight into our yard and even into our bedrooms. There is the danger of accidents and the danger of strangers passing by able to see where my son is playing," he pointed out. Mr Gilsenan said there was a lot of noise from the road and, at night, lights from the traffic shine into the house. "All we are looking for is a barrier to shield the house from the road, but the NRA seem determined that this won't happen," he said. Mr Gilsenan said they had problems from the outset with the construction work. "The work blocked the land drainage, flooding the yard and the house was almost flooded in the heavy rain in November. At first, they were refusing to do anything about it, but when we had the same problem at Christmas, they admitted it was caused by the works," he said. "I am very concerned for our safety and security and I am angry that I have to go these lengths - protesting on my day of work - to try and get the NRA to do something they should have been doing all along," he added.