This article is from page 12 of the 2006-02-07 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 12 JPG
RESIDENTS from two counties are to unite to fight the decision on where to situate a new crossing over the Shannon.
Angry residents from Killaloe and Tipperary are to meet on Wednesday night to plan a campaign to oppose work going ahead on a location, which would see the route pass less than 200 meters from historic Clarisford Palace.
Residents say that the route chosen will cause maximum damage in terms of the town’s amenities and residential considerations.
People in Killaloe have already met to discuss their concerns and opposition to the plan, as have residents in Ballina. Now the two groups are to come together to plan an orchestrated campaign of opposition.
One person involved in the Killaloe campaign said that at least part of the group’s action would be to highlight the potential damage to historical monuments.
“There is a lot of history and heritage being vandalised by this bridge,” the resident said.
“People here tell stories of how noone ever starved in Killaloe in the famine because the Bishop fed people who came to the walls of Clarisford Palace. And there is a plan to put one of the pillars of the bridge in the canal. There are records of barges drawing Guinness form James’s Gate to Clare going back two centuries.”
The objectors say they are also concerned that this route will bring traffic too close to St Anne’s Community College, putting pupils at the school in danger.
It is likely that people from a third local authority may become involved, as a second bridge downstream from O’Briensbridge and Mountpellier in Limerick is also on the cards as part of the plan.
Local Councillor for Montpellier, Noreen Ryan (FF), said that the bridge decision “was anti-democratic from the start. This has done nothing but veto any possibility of getting a proper crossing which that serve the whole region.”
Killaloe councillor, Tony O’Brien (FF), has said that while a decision is welcome to end uncertainty, the bridge will not totally alleviate traffic problems in the lakeside towns.
“What is needed is a proper plan for the town to charter economic development and a bypass,” he said.
The route was chosen following a study of route constraints, commissioned by three local authorities; Clare, Limerick and Tipperary North County Council. It is expected that the new route will be finished in March.