TARA: the solution is in The Meath Master Plan

The Meath Master Plan: There's a SMART alternative to the M3 double-tolled freeway!
The imaginative, far-seeing and visionary Meath Master Plan for a Meath World Heritage Park.

Learn about the Meath Master Plan on this link: http://www.meathmasterplan.com/index.html
There is a convenient a one-page summary of the Meath Master Plan on this link: http://www.meathmasterplan.com/summary.html

PRESS RELEASE

–For Release 6 May 2008–



A public march in support of the innovative Meath MASTER Plan will take place on Saturday May 17th 2008 at 3pm.



Participants are asked to meet at the Garden of Remembrance, Parnell
Square, and the march will proceed to Dail Eireann, where there will be
speeches, music and a presentation of the Plan to government officials.



The MASTER (Model Archaeological and Sustainable Economic Region) Plan
is an advanced development plan that solves the current legal,
environmental and heritage issues around the controversial M3 motorway,
and also provides a wider model for sustainable economic, heritage and
tourism development in Meath.



A key goal of the Plan is to enable Meath people to work in their
locality, reduce their dependence on long-distance commuting to Dublin,
and consequently allow them to spend more time with their families and
within their community.



A second goal is to reduce Meath's CO2 emissions and its reliance on
oil use for transport and energy, and to regenerate the local economy
and communities of the region. Reduced oil use would lead to much lower
costs in the future for both families and businesses in Meath. The
promoters of the Plan stress this should be a national priority at a
time when the oil price is close to $120 per barrel and has increased
by over 500% since 2002.



The MASTER Plan objectives would be achieved via the creation of a
community transport network to include a toll-free 2+1 road, and rail
and coach services that facilitate easy travel throughout Meath,
together with the creation of a UNESCO Meath World Heritage Park to
generate tourism revenue, preserve the unique value of Meath's heritage
sites and demonstrate the importance of sustainable living.



The Plan avoids re-routing the M3 as it uses much of the current road
scheme "footprint" and switches to the existing N3 in the sensitive
Tara-Skryne Valley area whilst still providing bypasses of Dunshaughlin
and Navan. Land within the Tara-Skryne Valley purchased for the M3
would be held in state ownership and designated for heritage
interpretation and protection.



The modified road scheme would also save significant costs for
commuters and businesses as it would be toll-free, since the reduced
cost of the 2+1 road format allows for buy-out of the PPP contract.



The Plan additionally implements the long-sought rail link to Navan and
Kells, and provides for new coach services, creating a cost-effective,
sustainable and reliable community transport network that would break
dependency on long-distance commuting, encourage local job creation and
dramatically improve quality of life for those living in the region.



The coach and rail alternatives would help reduce traffic volumes on
the modified M3 by up to two-thirds, and the capital costs involved are
approx. € 300 million less than current Government proposals.



The parallel designation of the region as a UNESCO World Heritage site
would result in the preservation, protection and sustainable management
of the archaeology in the Tara-Skryne Valley and surrounding areas. The
extent of the World Heritage site would encompass the five major
centres of Navan, Kells, Trim, Dunshaughlin and Slane, bringing a major
tourist and economic dividend for the region with a potential increase
of €75 million in tourism revenue per annum.



Co-authors of the Meath MASTER Plan, environmental campaigner Tadhg
Crowley and transport researcher Brian Guckian, stated: "The Meath
MASTER Plan is a huge opportunity to be grasped, with very significant
economic, environmental, social and cultural benefits. It is something
that everyone can have ownership of, and our message is that there is a
solution, and that it can be implemented right now".



The proposal is currently with government and has received strong
backing from the public and from across the political spectrum.



Guest speakers at the march will outline what the Plan means to them
and the event will be a positive and constructive chance to engage with
the issues involved, according to the organisers.



ENDS



For details on the arrangements for the Meath MASTER Plan March, please contact:



Terri Murray

terricath@hotmail.com



For details on the content of the Meath MASTER Plan, please contact:



Brian Guckian

railprojects@eircom.net



Tadhg Crowley

tadhgcrowley@gmail.com

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