The former Attorney general John Rogers has been named as the man behind a judicial review of the Slane bypass. A former attorney general’s legal bid to overturn planning approval for the Slane bypass is to be heard in the New Year. The long awaited project was given the green light in June by An Coimisiún Pleanála, which on the announcement was met with great applaud by most, including all local and national politicians and Meath county council. Most importantly though the local community in and around Slane. Motorists would also see a bypass on the busy N2 national road. It’s now facing the judicial review, with a man with proven credentials in the legal battlefield, in John Rogers actions. He is fully within his right to do so.
A report in the Irish Times, outlines Rogers arguments, which will be subject to the review on January 15th. In the affidavit Rogers argues his lands will be affected by the proposed bypass and the commission did not have an adequate expert report in relation to its proximity to the UNESCO Brú na Bóinne World Heritage Site of Outstanding Natural Value, which includes the Neolithic passage tomb at Newgrange
He further says that unlike in 2012, when An Bord Pleanála refused Meath county Council’s first application for planning permission, there was no oral hearing where opinions and statements of the experts could be examined. The case came before the High Court’s planning and environment list yesterday, when Mr Justice Richard Humphreys fixed a hearing date for January 15th, having been told the local authority is very anxious that the case is heard quickly.
Cathaoirleach Cllr Wayne Harding, and Chief Executive Kieran Kehoe will be hoping to see the Slane Bypass succeed in it’s development after the judicial review planned for 15th Jan next year.
Slane based Cathaoirleach of Meath County Council Wayne Harding has given his reaction to the legal challenge and issued the following statement to Meath Live, ”While I am bitterly disappointed that there has been a judicial review sought into the bypass of Slane village. I welcome that the date has been set so quickly. The scheme was granted planning permission, having stood up to extraordinary scrutiny, and I have absolutely no doubt it will pass this further impediment. And finally, lead to the dangerous N2 been taken out of Slane village and millions of euro been invested in Slane’s public realm.”
