GALWAY County Council warned this week that there could be real enviroamental difficulties in store for plans to develop the roads infrastructure in Connemara - in fact, in the case of road development from Spiddal to Rossaveal (the R336), there is a warning that any new road might not be permissable, while protected bog structures would also cause problems.

The information was given to Senator Jim Higgins MEP in a letter from Mr. Martin Lavelle, Senior Engineer, Road Design, Galway County Council.

And the National Roads Authority also threw cold water on a proposai to develop a new road - there has been a growing campaign for a new road Iinking Galway City to Connemara, but the NRA said such a road would be "of littie benefit."

Said the National Roads Authority: "Connemara is connected to Galway City by the N59 (Galway Clifden) and R336 (Barna Spiddal-Rossaveal). These two roads pass through, or close to, the main population centres. "A proposal bas been made to build a new (third) road between these two roads. It is our view that such a new road would be of littie benefit, as those who live close by the existing roads would continue to use them; there is littie population catchment on the proposed route. There are other obstacles also, including a special area of conservation and unsuitable terrain, which make this third road undesirable.

"The greatest benefit to the public would corne from improving the existing corridors rather than adding a third connecting road. With this in mmnd, the NRA is steadily improving the N59 and, funding permitted, will continue to do so. For example, preliminary work for realignment of 5km. at Derrylea Lake is starting this year," the National Roads Authonty added.

Meanwhile, the letter from Galway County Council outlined difficulties which could arise. It was sent to Senator Higgins MEP by the Council in response to documentation submitted by him on behalf of Phobal lorras Aithneach Carna, the local development forum.

Said Senator Higgins in a statement: "Galway County Council have confirmed that possible environmental difficulties may arise in relation to the proposed improvement of the R336 regional road from Bearna to Ros an Mhil. In a letter to Senator Higgins, Mr. Martin lavelle, Senior Engineer, Road Design, Galway County Council states: 'I wish to inform you that we are progressing the Constraint Study for the Bearna to Ros an Mhil roadway. We have employed a Consultant Ecologist to examine the three routs selected. The Consultant Ecologist is also examining the situation from Maam Cross to Screeb to link the Western Connemara Area to the N59 (the main Galway Clifden Road). The N59 route is included as part of Transport 21 and will receive investement from the NRA (National Roads Authority).'

Mr lavelle added: 'The land searches are also ongoing through Land Registry and, to date 717 Folios have been identified for the section between Bearna and Ros an Mhil.

'From initial discussions with the National Parks and Wildlife Services in relation to the route, it seems that the priority habitat of raised bogs in the aiea west of Spiddal will create difficulties and that a road as the crow flues is not a possibility and a road north of the existing R336 may not even be permissable,' Senior Engineer Lavelle added.

Independent member of Galway County Council Seosamh Ó Cuaig, who is Chairman of the Council's Roads and Transportation Committee, said that he viewed the Iatest information on the roads demands, as very serious indeed and said that the issue would be high on the agenda for the committee meeting later this week. He said that the constraints on roads development as revealed in the Council letter, posed a very serious situation for Connemara where the need for road development was very obvious indeed and where poor roads were holding back development in the area generally.

JOHN CUNNINGHAM Cúradh Chonnachtach 14/7/2006

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