Heritage Council concerns over Inner Relief Road are valid

Inner Relief Road is not the only solution-Noonan

The concerns of the Heritage Council regarding the Inner Relief Road and it potential impact on Kilkenny are valid and should be given serious consideration even at this stage of the process according to Cllr Malcolm Noonan. The costs of the project which will largely have to be raised at local level are difficult to justify as no cost benefit analysis has taken place in relation to the project, claimed the Green Party Councillor. He believes any such analysis should take into account the environmental, social and cultural impacts of the project as well as economic criteria.

‘The Heritage Council are voicing valid concerns around the potential degradation of the quality of life of the people of Kilkenny, the damage to the integrity of the historic core of the city and the visual impact of a new bridge crossing on the existing Greens Bridge’ claimed Cllr Noonan. ‘I share these concerns and have always felt that the proposed project is excessive given that we have not adequately explored other options in dealing with our chronic traffic problems’.

Cllr Noonan feels that circumstances have changed radically since the Inner Relief Road was first proposed over twenty years ago. Climate Change has now to be factored into the equation and addressing transport emissions as well as looking at best practice in other European countries could provide a more sustainable solution at a fraction of the cost of the road and bridge crossing.

‘A clear commitment to cap and begin to reduce vehicle numbers entering the city centre could be a positive first step. Our over dependence on the car needs to be addressed at a policy level, it is hypocrisy for us to talk about, park and ride, public transport and cycle lanes on one hand and on the other support the provision of a road that will do nothing to tackle the root cause of the traffic problem and the continued prioritisation of the private car in urban planning. In fact I believe that this road will be at capacity or over capacity on the day the tape is cut’ stated Cllr Noonan.

Cllr Noonan welcomes the reversal of the decision to route the road through Wolfe Tone St. He now hopes that the Garrison House can be put back on the list of protected structures in the 2008 City and Environs Development Plan.

‘Once a piece of infrastructure of this scale is put in place, it will alter an urban settlement that has remained virtually intact for hundreds years just to accommodate more cars. The fact that Kilkenny has just been selected for the Great Town award by the Academy of Urbanism reinforces the rationale for trying to maintain the integrity of the City Centre and for exploring viable alternatives to keep people moving efficiently and without stress around Kilkenny.

ENDS

Contact: Malcolm Noonan 086 8399418

Note to Editors

The Inner Relief Road was first proposed in 1978 as a means of dealing with traffic problems in Kilkenny City. The proposed route then as now dissects the medieval core of the old Irishtown of Kilkenny, one of the most historic quarters of the city.

The road will effectively cut off communities and St Canice’s Cathedral from the rest of the city in order to service a major development at McDonagh Junction. Another proposed mixed retail/residential/commercial development at the old city mart site has been recently refused planning permission by Kilkenny Borough Council primarily on the grounds that the Inner Relief Road and bridge crossing had not been given approval in Principle by An Bord Planeala.

Meanwhile an incomplete ring road extension is due to open in December 2007. The completion of this road with a second bridge crossing outside Kilkenny City would have greatly reduced the need for the Inner Relief Road.

Serious concerns regarding the proposed route have been raised in a report to An Bord Planeala commissioned by the Heritage Council.