'Powerful forces' from outside county trying to sabotage bypass

Comments by a leading social and economic commentator criticising the proposals for the Slane bypass have caused an angry reaction locally. The comments by Dr Edgar Morgenroth, associate professor at the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), are being seen as a blow to the campaign to have the village bypassed. Dr Morgenroth described the plans for a dual-carriageway bypass as "idiotic" and said he would be making a formal complaint to the Comptroller and Auditor General if An Bord Pleanála approved the current proposal. Deputy Thomas Byrne described the professor's comments as unfounded criticism, which was not new and often came from powerful forces from outside the Meath area. "The N2 through Slane village has caused huge concern among the community for years and many people have lost their lives on a relatively short stretch of road. Others have been injured and barely escaped with their lives. The safety of the people of our community is of great concern to me and will be enhanced by the completion of this project, rendering it far from idiotic," he said. "Among the comments attributed to Dr Morgenroth is that the bypass is 'totally irrelevant' for access from County Donegal to Dublin. This misses the point of the campaign for the bypass entirely. Fianna Fáil is seeking to protect the residents of Slane and of County Meath and the travelling public. I will continue working to do that regardless of the uninformed commentary of a few who seem to get a lot of national media attention whenever they rubbish the Slane bypass," said Deputy Byrne. Cllr Wayne Harding noted Dr Morgenroth statement that he would complain to the Comptroller and Auditor General if An Bord Pleanala granted planning permission. "This smacks of unwarranted interference in the independence of An Bord Pleanala and is highly inappropriate. Deputy Byrne has asked the ESRI to confirm that they do not stand over this statement. I would respectfully ask that everyone currently engaged in the high-level campaign to demonise the Slane bypass that they would respect whatever decision An Bord Pleanála makes," he said. "While it is everyone's democratic right to object to the Slane bypass, among the objectors are quite a number of barristers and senior counsel living on the south side Of Dublin. "Meath County Council, the National Roads Authority, the Government and, more importantly, the vast majority of the community in Slane and Meath want to see this bypass constructed," added Councillor Harding. Deputy Shane McEntee was also adamant that the bypass should go ahead. "This is a very difficult issue. Twenty-two people have already lost their lives in various accidents, many of which involved lorries or trucks. The people of Slane should not have to wait for another fatality before something is done about it. I acknowledge it is important to preserve our countryside, but the deaths on the hill are just not acceptable," he added.