Rail network: We would encourage upgrading of the rail network and with the objective of removing the necessity of people to travel by car.

Leinster Outer Orbital Route: That the orbital route concept is still on the drawing board is alarming. The construction of a motorway across a heritage county is nothing short of wanton vandalism, particularly at a time of depleting fossil fuel reserves and when greater emphasis should be placed on public transport system/s. The fiasco of the M3 motorway should have focused minds to this. In that case the exchequer had to subvert the takings on the tolls as traffic was below predicted levels. It would appear that the lesson has not been learned. We are aware that the outer orbital route still appears in regional strategies too. Notwithstanding, we are obliged to point out the obvious shortcomings with this policy.

We strongly oppose the continued insertion of this proposal.

We need to move away from roads to rail and other forms of public transport. Constructing motorways merely encourages this type of car dependant urban sprawl.

Moreover motorways give rise to significant noise and disturbance. We invite you to walk the Royal Canal between Enfield to Fury’s to listen to the noise disturbance, which the M4 motorway is causing.

Furthermore, the proposed motorway is planned to cross various sensitive landscape such as Doolistown Bog between Trim and Longwood. This is unacceptable and we are surprised that the county’s docile adherence to the TII (Transport Infrastructure Ireland) formally the NRA (National Roads Authority).

To run yet another 4-lane motorway across sensitive a heritage landscape is frankly ludicrous.

Cont/d.