'The people of Slane have been living with the danger and congestion on a daily basis for so long'

As Meath County Council prepares for the oral hearing into the Slane Bypass in April, residents of the village are hoping that an end to the decades long campaign for the bypass is in sight.

The narrow bridge over the Boyne has been a notorious accident blackspot for decades with a string of safety measures implemented over the years, in an attempt to avoid collisions on the steep approaches. The sharp decent to the bridge has been the scene of at least 22 fatal accidents.

The Slane Bridge Action group was set up in 2001 following the death of two year-old David Garvey in an horrific accident at the bridge involving a truck and two cars. Residents were so enraged that a public meeting was called at which the Action Group was formed to campaign for the construction of a bypass.

The Bypass Slane Campaign was formed in 2009 following a terrifying incident involving nine vehicles, including a lorry and a van.

Families returning from the school run were among those caught up in the collision, which saw at least six cars written off and the lorry and van badly damaged.

Twelve years ago, An Bord Pleanála refused a previous planning application for a bypass of Slane, much to the dismay of the people of the village.

Following a new application made last year, oral hearings will now be held online for affected landowners on April 3rd in relation to the Slane bypass.

Cllr Wayne Harding said: "This date marks a significant milestone for a campaign that has now lasted decades. It does look likely that these are the only oral hearings that the board are requesting which suggests that there will be a decision on the application in the summer.

"There has been a decade of work put into the application by Meath County Council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland since the 2012 refusal of the last scheme.

"It cannot be emphasised enough that this is no longer just a bypass application for the village, but a public realm enhancement that will see millions of euros of investment in the village's streetscape.

"With the level of detail put into the application I am extremely positive about a successful outcome."

Michelle Power of the Bypass Slane Campaign said she hoped the people of Slane wouldn't be let down again.

"The people of Slane have been living with the danger and congestion on a daily basis for so long. At this stage I hope there is a strong possibility of it succeeding.

"We have been looking for this for decades. It beggars belief that it has been such a long drawn out process. I hope there is a strong chance of it succeeding and that it will be built without further delay,"

John Ryle of the Slane Bridge Action Committee said he was looking forward to the Bypass being built and driving across it.