McEntee to host meeting between archaeologist and Tara residents over conservation plan

A crucial meeting between residents opposing a conservation plan for the Tara/Skryne area and an archaeologist is to take place early in the New Year. Meath East Fine Gael TD Shane McEntee says he will host the meeting between Professor Conor Newman and the elected committee opposing the plan. The latest move comes following a comment from Meath County Council this week that there is no “specific timeline†on when councillors will vote on a contentious conservation plan for the area. The draft landscape conservation plan, originally put forward by former Minister for Environment Dick Roche after he had approved the final route of the M3 motorway, has led to opposing claims by supporters and opponents. Last August, a meeting in the Ardboyne Hotel, Navan, had to be abandoned after council staff were subjected to what a council spokeswoman described as “a high level of inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour†from a small number of people. A second meeting was held in the hotel, hosted by Deputy McEntee, but without the presence of council staff. The council has received 348 submissions on the plan and the county manager's report on these must be considered by the councillors before a possible vote on it. The main fear of residents in the areas is that the introduction of the plan would put a virtual end to planning permission in the areas involved, even for the children of established residents. Deputy McEntee said yesterday (Tuesday) that Professor Newman had agreed to meet with the committee members to discuss the present Skryne/Tara preservation plan. The meeting will take place towards the end of January at a date to be decided later. Professor Newman was elected as chairman of the Heritage Council in 2008 and is attached to the Department of Archaeology at NUI Galway. At a previous meeting in Dublin with Prof Newman, Deputy McEntee said he had made it very clear what the people in the area were looking for. “The people of Skryne/Tara who I have spoken with will not support any movement that will interfere with the planning process in the area. “This plan will interfere with businesses and also families wanting to build near their own family homes or just extend or modernise their current homes. “Professor Newman has told me himself that he believes the only way forward, in relation to such renowned places as the Hill of Tara, is to take on board any input from the local community. It is quite clear that the majority of the community do not want this conservation movement to go ahead. “A plan must be debated and agreed upon by the committee which will then be put forward to Meath County Council.†Deputy McEntee said he believed that Professor Newman's presence at the meeting will be crucial. “The professor has a considerable amount of heritage experience and expertise which I believe will greatly benefit talks at the meeting,†the Fine Gael TD said.