3 First Public Consultation
An initial
(first) Public Consultation was undertaken at the end of March
2001 and presented the "Initial Study Area" of interest for
the proposed scheme.
The consultation
involved the presentation of mapping and information on the
scheme through a full-page advertisement in the following
local newspapers:
- The Nationalist
and Leinster Times;
- The Leinster
Express;
- The Munster
Express;
- The Waterford
News and Star;
- The Leinster
Leader;
- The Carlow
People; and
- The Kilkenny
People.
Comments from
the public on the scheme were invited and facilitated by a
'cut-out' comment sheet which could be returned to the National
Roads Design Office in Kildare County Council or to Kilkenny
County Council. Responses were requested by 11 April, 2001
if possible.
A total of 46
responses were received by Kildare and Kilkenny County Councils
from the first Public Consultation. Over 80% of the responses
were relevant to the northern section.
The comments
can be divided into four main categories:
i) comments
on the extent of the Study Area
ii) comments
on the choice of route
iii)
information provided on local constraints
iv) requests
to be kept informed
Two responses
( representing the parishes of Tullow, Grange and Ardattin
and representing the Tullow Community Development Initiative)
indicated that the Study Area should extend ( or be moved)
eastwards to include the Tullow area. Areas outside the Study
Area are included as part of the traffic study and hence the
possible impact of Tullow will be considered.
The majority
of responses were comments on the choice of route and can
be summarized as follows:
- route to
go to the east of Carlow
- route to go
to the west of Carlow
- the N9/N10
to be upgraded
- extend the
N81 to New Ross and use the N25 (to Waterford)
- route to serve
Athy · route to follow N78 corridor
- route to go
from East of Kildare to Waterford
- route to go
from Kilcullen to New Ross (and hence to Waterford and Rosslare)
- route to serve
Carlow and Kilkenny and provide direct access to Athy,Castlecomer,Bagenalstown
and possibly Tullow
- route to the
east of Carlow, Thomastown and, perhaps, east of the railway
to Waterford.
The issue of
route corridors will be considered during Public Consultation
No.2
Some responses
included local information which will be considered during
the development of the route corridors.
A final
group of respondents asked to be kept informed during the
development of the scheme.
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