Judicial review to be lodged against Slane bypass

News will come as a blow to campaigners

Meath County Council has received confirmation that a member of the public intends to lodge a judicial review against the Slane bypass.

The ecstatic welcome in the village earlier this summer at the news that the long-awaited bypass of the village and bridge had been approved has been dealt a hammer blow as the council confirmed this morning (Tuesday) that it had received the notification.

At the end of June, An Coimisiún Pleanála gave the go-ahead for the Slane Bypass and Public Realm plan, to the delight of campaigners, local public representatives, and families who had lost members at the notorious black spot of Slane Bridge. Slane residents have lived with the trauma of horrific crashes happening on their doorsteps for many years - the 23 white crosses on the bridge is testament to that, marking the number of fatalities over the past quarter of a century.

Meath County Council, in conjunction with Transport Infrastructure Ireland, proposed the N2 Slane Bypass and Public Realm Enhancement Scheme to improve road safety along the N2 through Slane village and to allow the village to thrive and develop without the current levels of vehicular congestion.

The project includes a 3.5km dual carriageway around Slane with a combined footway/cycleway, a 258-metre-long bridge over the River Boyne, and a number of public realm enhancements within Slane village. The scheme also includes improved traffic management measures and works on the N51 between the proposed bypass and the centre of the village.

In May, the news that An Coimisiún Pleanála had decided not to hold an oral hearing into the application was taken as an indication that a favourable response was on the way. However, there were those who made submissions on the proposal who felt that an oral hearing was necessary.

Aside from statutory prescribed bodies invited to comment on the application, there were observations from the Irish Georgian Society, Geological Survey Ireland, the International Council on Monuments and Sites Ireland, Alex and Carina Conyngham, Davina Gray, John Rogers, Jack Rogers, Micheal and Elaine Cully, Fionan O Muircheartaigh, Michelle and Kevin Garrigan, Peter Murray, Robert Kenny, Thomas Bibby, Treasa Keegan, Ronan O'Loughlin, John Kealy, Bypass Slane Campaign, Cllr Wayne Harding, Dr Afric White and Professor Killian Hurley, and Jane McCulloch and others.

On 27th June, An Coimisiún Pleanála approved the proposal, with seven conditions, covering environmental aspects, integrity of European Natura sites, archaeology and culture, ecology and wildlife, and clarity and visual amenity.