Council facing new battle over "Blue" N4 route

Whilst the N4 Concerned Working Group are still celebrating their relief following the successful opposition to the three proposed routes for the upgrade of the N4.Westmeath County Council face a new battle with the residents who live along the emerging preferred 'Blue Route'.A group of local residents in Cullionmore and Portnashangan have come together to express their fears and concerns over the selection of the 'Blue Route' for the N4 upgrade.Calling themselves the 'N4 Blue Route Concerned Group', the members are concerned over the impact the new route may have on the environment in and around Lough Owel and Ballinafid Lake.But they are also alleging an 'abuse' of the process used by Westmeath County Council both in the provision of information and the lead in time for submissions on the emerging preferred route.FearsDescribing their dismay at the lack of information available on how and why this route was chosen, spokesperson for the N4 Blue Route Concerned Group Katie Johnston told the Westmeath Examiner:'The Roads Design Office have produced a ruinous route which will affect a great number of residents along its course and we feel these people should be afforded every assistance by the Roads Office with regard to understanding the plan.'This is not happening and many are still in the dark about what will happen to their homes.'Risk to drinking waterA more serious concern raised by the group is that the supply of water to Mullingar town itself may be at risk of compromise.'We are amazed by the decision to embed a motorway along the lakeshore and risk damaging the delicate hydrogeology of the lake,' says Ms. Johnston.'Lough Owel is designated High Amenity because of the Lake and the public access to it. The Lake itself is a Special Area of Conservation and supplies drinking water to Mullingar and its hinterland.'The area surrounding Lough Owel is subject to a restriction on residential planning as part of the County Development Plan. Contamination is generally controlled because of these designations,' explains Katie.Her husband, local solicitor Matt Johnston, said that the group has asked the Roads Design Office to state why the Blue route was chosen.'They have provided a Constraints Study for a fee but it does not answer the question why a sensitive area such as Lough Owel was selected.'We have also requested the Roads Design Office to extend the period of Public Consultation which ends on 5th June.'We believe this date is an unacceptable timeframe for the public to review the details of the route and prepare submissions. Unfortunately the RDO have refused to accommodate the public in this matter. We believe this to be an abuse of process.'The Project Office in Mullingar has described the proposed blue route as a similar type of dual carriageway as to that which is already in place between Kinnegad and Coralstown and the junctions as similar to the existing ones on the Mullingar bypass.Senior Executive Engineer, Ambrose Clarke at the Project Office describes the emerging blue route as part of an ongoing planning process that began in August 2008.'The blue route is a combination of the three route corridor options and has been chosen by Consultant Engineers Hyder Tobin after taking into account submissions and studies. The Blue Route was announced to Westmeath County Council and Longford County Council in partnership with the National Roads Authority and we announced the new route on Wednesday 6th May, inviting people to attend public consultation exhibitions on the emerging preferred route corridor for the N4 Mullingar to Longford (Roosky) Road Scheme.'This scheme will upgrade approximately 52km of the N4 and is being designed to bypass Newtown Forbes, Longford, Edgeworthstown, Rathowen and Ballinalack, improving road safety and reducing travel times along this section of the N4'On Wednesday 13th May the exhibition of the new route was in the Mullingar Park Hotel in Mullingar after being shown in Edgeworthstown and Longford. The views and comments of the public were sought on the emerging preferred route corridor for this important scheme and visitors attending the exhibitions could make their views known by completing the consultation questionnaire or by writing direct to the National Roads Design Office, Culleen Beg, Mullingar, County Westmeath'Call for SupportKatie Johnston is urging people to visualise the devastating impact of the plan, believing that a map with just a blue line does not represent the impact to the area.'The NRA will need room for a motorway plus a local access road which means 6/7 lanes of road will run along the shore where there are currently 2 on the existing N4.'Add to that the image of a considerable interchange junction near where the diving boards are, and the landscape of the lake will be changed in a dramatic and unsightly way,' believes Katie.The Concerned group are anticipating amenity groups such as the Fisheries Board, the Mullingar Subaqua, Swimming and Sailing clubs will all object, as well as Bord Fáilte and the Westmeath Environment Group.'We need as many people as possible to look at the plans online at www.wccprojectoffice.ie. Then make a submission by 5th June.'Although this area has some protection by the County Council the plan will still go ahead unless there is public objection,' Katie Johnston says.