Meath MASTER Plan March 3pm May 17th 2008

by roadster Fri May 09, 2008 10:55

Having giving consideration to the proposed Meath Master Plan, on the first reading it appeared to be a 'Patch' to the M3 scheme.

On subsequent readings there are a number of apparent additions needed:

For instance more land would need to be acquired for carparking at the rail heads; unless of course the users rode pushbikes which I very much doubt :-)

The existing N3 would need to be widened and greatly improved, necessitating CPO's and the removal of domestic properties. This to accomodate future increased traffic.

The existing construction of the M3 would need to be landscaped to return it to something like it's former.

The newly revealed ancient sites would need some sort of structure built over then to preserve their uniqueness, possibly a museum at each site?

Now in the creation of Tourist Park, there would need to be a Tourist Information Centre and additional facilities created; including the building of new hotels, shops, restaurants, camping areas, with sewage and water schemes to service the tourist industry, plus feeder roads & extra parking.
In addition to that homes would be needed for the workers and services for them too.

I do believe that the government ought to be actively encouraged to support the MMP, for I see that it could prove to be a good money making scheme for Private & Public Investment.

by billy idle Fri May 09, 2008 12:29

Roadster your interpretation doesn't stack up. The M7 near Naas was recently widened which required home CPO's. This came to pass with the minimum of fuss since many of the homeowners were relieved to be moving away from the edge of a very busy road with all the nuisance and dangers to health that living in such a situation entails and which was getting steadily worse with every passing year.

Secondly all the facilties you claim will need to be built withing the valley can easily be provided in nearby existing towns and villages where all such services including houses are readily availiable. Indeed this would have very much a positive economic benefit for these areas given the slowdown were now in.

by anita greg - transition towns Fri May 09, 2008 19:10 anitagreg at gmail dot com

and fliers etc for homeprinting downloadable from http://www.tarataratara.net/POSTERS/MeathMasterPlan.htm

poster for this event

and fliers

this should download the pdf file 0.38 Mb

by anita greg - transition towns Fri May 09, 2008 23:53 anitagreg at gmail dot com

posters above - downloadable from http://www.tarataratara.net/POSTERS/MeathMasterPlan.htm

and a picture

by muddaearth Mon May 12, 2008 12:27

I was in a Taxi friday night listening to the Driver talking about his son who lives in Navan. We got talking about the terrible commute to Dublin etc and the desperate need for improvement. He was TOTALLY unaware of the fact that his son would have to pay a DOUBLE TOLL on the new Motorway and was, even more importantly, sure that his son was unaware of this fact too. And that is the problem here. Hopefully this March on Saturday will help people to wake up!

by Tara Tara Tara Wed May 14, 2008 09:16

Looking forward to seeing a good turnout on Saturday :)

To make it colorful and fun please feel free to dress up, face paint etc and bring drums, rattles and anything that makes noise for the March along the way to the Dail.

And the weather promises to stay fine too!

by donkeyonamission Thu May 15, 2008 13:54

Don't forget the march in support of the innovative Meath MASTER Plan will take place on Saturday May 17th 2008 at 3pm.

http://www.tarapixie.net/
http://www.meathmasterplan.com/

Heritage and Environment desecrators

by . Fri May 16, 2008 14:04

Squeek says "on yer bike" for the Meath master

.

by phillip Fri May 16, 2008 14:56

"Squeek says "on yer bike" for the Meath master"

Surprised to read that Squeek is intimating that she has no time for the march.

Or does she not know the meaning of that phrase?

by Wheels on the Bus Fri May 16, 2008 16:53

Actually she is speaking at the March as one of the Guest Speakers and is very much in favour of the plan.

I think the previous writer must be referring to the fact that Squeek used to be a Bike Courier ...bike being another form of transport option -rather than car dependency.

by grantham Fri May 16, 2008 18:32

The phrase "On yer bike" actually means don't believe a word of what is being said.

by Tara Tara Tara Sun May 18, 2008 13:23

Each Speaker was so passionate in their delivery I will not even attempt to give you an overview, you will have to wait for the video! This is just the start of the campaign to get the Meath Master Plan on the road and what a start it was :)

Meanwhile enjoy the pics of this hugely successful March ...

The Marchers Arrive

Song

Music- Laoise Kelly & Friends

Dance

Keeping It Green

by Tara Tara Tara Sun May 18, 2008 13:29

A varied line up of people with passion and foresight.....

Brian Guckian

Meath Cllr. Peadar Toibin

Meath Cllr. Phillip Cantwell

Squeak

by Tadhg Sun May 18, 2008 17:50

Thanks so much to all who attended and to everyone who helped to put out flyers, posters and in setting up the march. Special thanks to Carmel, Roibeard, Terri and all the speakers who spoke so effectively and so eloquently. Thank you all.

Thank you also to Laoise and all her friends for the beautiful music, to add to the occasion.

It was a very positive day, promoting a very positive way forward for the people of Meath - the Meath MASTER Plan is a plan that will safeguard the future of Meath.... comparing that against what is an over specified, completely ineffective, over costly Tolled motorway that will only make transport, environmental and quality of life issues worse, then there is no argument.

If built the M3 will be obsolete within a few years, due to petrol price rises.

by Carmel Diviney Mon May 19, 2008 10:18

Thanks Tadhg :) my pleasure.

One further thing though that I would like to draw peoples attention to is what I see as an almost blanket media blackout on the Meath Master Plan. Two Press Releases were sent out over a two week period to over 120 different Newspaper, Tv and Radio stations both here and in Northern Ireland. There were NO replies from Newspapers or Tv and only 2 Radio stations carried the story.

It's hardly a small story either- a SOLUTION to the Tara/M3 Disaster!!!! A blueprint for sustainable living, no double tolls- thats a BIG story. Make of that what you want.

We need more people on the next March scheduled for Navan, details nearer to the time. Volunteers have been busy there and in surrounding areas leafleting residences with information about the MMP. Onwards and upwards :)

Carmel

by Roibeard Mon May 19, 2008 14:11

It is true that there was a media blackout and one has to be realistic in one's analysis. However, one reason could be, the media concentration on Lisbon - it simply has monopolised their whole attention. Anyway, let's be positive and send out positive vibrations. From small beginnings, can sprout great endings. If one believes enough, one can generate a great harvest, so let's keep the ball rolling in the public domain and see what happens.....

by Pixnmix Wed May 21, 2008 09:14

Wish I could have been there, looks like it was a great day. I will make sure I am off for the next one. I am looking forward to your presentation at the Tara Heritage Hall on Saturday- booked day off!!!

by Tara Tara Tara Fri Jul 18, 2008 10:21

By Evan Short

The Navan to Dublin railway project looks to be dead in the water
after it was revealed that one of two key bridges along the M3
protecting the route is not being built.

Site visits by the Meath Post to both locations at Pace (Dunboyne) and
Cannistown (Navan) has revealed that whilst the bridge protecting the
railway at Dunboyne is being constructed, the bridge south of Navan is
not, and the M3 is now being built directly across the railway alignment.

News of this missing bridge and its impact on the Navan Dublin railway
project is likely to be met with anger by Meath's commuters.

However Iarnrod Eireann claim that the NRA have factored in the
problem and will build embankments to allow the railway to go ahead.

During the planning process for the M3 in 2003, concerns were raised
by Iarnród Éireann that reopening of the Navan Dublin railway would be
made too costly if M3 planners were allowed cut the former railway
line in two by running the M3 through it without first building a bridge.

Local railway campaigners, using information from Iarnród Éireann,
succeeded in obtaining the insertion of two railway bridges in the M3
plans to protect efforts to reopen the railway.

Under order of An Bord Pleanála, Meath County Council drew up plans
for one bridge at Dunboyne to protect the former railway line, and
another at Cannistown just south of Navan.

As recently as 2006, Meath County Council planning office insisted
that both bridge plans remained on file and that the Navan Dublin
railway line was being protected.

An Bord Pleanála's ruling stated that a bridge to allow the railway
pass beneath the M3 similar to the Dunboyne bridge should be
constructed at Cannistown. The instruction was that unless Iarnród
Éireann indicated that they intended following a new rail route for at
this section then the bridge as designed should be inserted.

To run the line over the motorway would take an enormous effort and
massive cost, with a 26 foot embankment required to run for kilometres
on either side of the M3 to allow the railway pass above the motorway.

As late as last month, Iarnród Éireann indicated that this section of
the former line was being retained, but the evidence in this
photograph shows this has not happened.

Despite this, a spokeswoman told the Meath Post that the NRA are aware
of their responsibilities.

"The (the NRA) are going to make provision and embankments will be
built that will allow the railway to go ahead."

by Carmel Ni Dhuibheanaigh Fri Jul 18, 2008 10:25

Hi all,

In view of the seriousness of the recent Meath Post article re: the
rail line, I am looking to get a letter writing campaign underway
immediately to Noel Dempsey. Please use this or your own wording and
email or post to

minister@transport.ie

The Department Of Transport,
Transport House,
Kildare St,
Dublin 2.

Obviously there is no need to stress how URGENT this is so please do it
asap. I think that letters would be better than emails but whatever you
can :) Thanks.

Dear Minister Dempsey,

I am writing to demand that the Meath Master Plan, details of which you
are already aware of, be implemented immediately. There is no valid
reason for any further delay in its implementation as benefits to our
Economy, Environment and Heritage far outweigh any benefits percieved
in the current plan. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours sincerely,

by Tara Tara Tara Fri Jul 18, 2008 19:02

And of course a similar letter to the oppostion parties to put pressure on Dempsey to see the light! We need to push for the MMP to be brought up again in the Dáil and to demand a full responce from him as he has always ducked a straight answer thus far in any question time.

by Tara Tara Tara Sun Jul 20, 2008 10:50

More write ups- just scroll half way down the page. Nice pics :)

by Tara Tara Tara Mon Jul 21, 2008 19:26

Meath Master Plan people were handing out flyers today and holding banners aloft at Government Buildings Merrion Square.

We Havn't Gone Away You Know!