Metro North Route

[Vbold]

**************
That last line actually made me shudder because it the kind of comment we heard out of North Mayo for the last couple of years by people who simply refused to listen to any facts, reason or unbaised reports.

******************

Now that is ridiculous. We are in the planning stage of a huge infrastructure project and as local residents we are allowed to voice any concerns we have with the proposals and criticise any plans which will impact on our standard of living.

Of course you are right in suggesting it has to be an overall view and that the metro will benefit a great number of people, locals alike, but as we will be facing the greatest impact during constructing and afterwards with the finished design then it is up to us to ensure that we make the RPA listen to our concerns and not provide the cheapest option which may or may not severely impact our living conditions.

As you are aware now legislation has been introduced which will speed up the planning process for large infrastructure projects and there is a standard appeal process incorporated. This process will have a set time schedule and the outcome will be final, I am not looking to drag it out any longer than this but the necessary time is required to be spent on the design issues i.e. now.

Of course you will always have people objecting to change and I have no problem with that, sometimes they are right and sometimes they are wrong but they have the right to object and to have a reply on the concerns they raise and if possible allowed to contribute to the design.

The objections to the elevated structure I believe are totally warranted and raise very valid points, these must be addressed and to be fair I believe they are. The final design solution will not be to everyone’s satisfaction and compromises must be made on all sides but that does not mean substandard, badly designed or cheap solution must be accepted