Public Launch of Meath MASTER Plan

national | environment | event notice Monday September 10, 2007 00:20 by Tadhg Crowley & Brian Guckian

Sustainable Development Plan to be Presented at Dalgan Park, Navan on Thursday 20th September 2007

[PRESS RELEASE]

For Release 10/9/2007

THE new Meath MASTER Plan is to be presented to the Public at a special presentation at Dalgan Park, Navan, on Thursday September 20th at 8pm.

The MASTER Plan (standing for Model Archaeological and Sustainable Economic Region) is intended to help Meath become a model for Ireland and the rest of Europe in sustainable practices and development in the energy, housing, tourism, heritage, transport and business development sectors.

The Plan is an integrated development framework that seeks to introduce sustainable techniques and practices into these sectors over a 5 to 7 year timeframe. It includes a compromise transport solution that preserves the Tara-Skryne (Gabhra) Valley and creates balance in the transport sector by spreading journey numbers more equally between road, rail and bus modes, giving commuters multiple and easily accessible options for their journeys.

The Plan includes upgraded coach services and a rail link servicing the key growing towns of Ashbourne, Ratoath, Dunshaughlin, Navan and Kells. It also converts the M3 to a toll-free format while modifying part of the road footprint to a smaller 2+1 design, with traffic figures cut by up to two-thirds. This would also make it possible to protect the unique heritage of the Tara Landscape.

Its promoters, environmental campaigner Tadhg Crowley and transport researcher Brian Guckian, emphasise that the project could be delivered ahead of the current M3 completion date, and that it solves the current EU legal issues regarding the controversial motorway scheme.

The Plan further facilitates the creation of a Meath UNESCO World Heritage Park, showcasing Meath's unique and world-renowned heritage attractions whilst also implementing best practice sustainable techniques as a tourism attraction and a business development training hub.

Mr. Crowley and Mr. Guckian stated they were excited about the possibilities of the Plan and the opportunity it presented for the sustainable economic development of Meath, and for a significantly improved quality of life for its residents and their future generations.

Full local, national and international support is being sought for the initiative, and the Presentation at Dalgan Park will be open to all, whether for or against the current M3 motorway scheme.

ENDS