Glen of the Downs road protesters seek meeting

Opponents of a road-widening scheme through the Glen of the Downs in Co Wicklow were yesterday seeking a meeting with the Garda authorities and Wicklow County Council to discuss the likely consequences of today's Supreme Court hearing into their action to prevent the controversial scheme.

The protesters, some of whom have been camped in trees since March 1987, are seeking to halt the £18.5 million road-widening scheme between Kilmacanogue and the southern end of the glen. The road widening is part of the improvements to the N11, which is a section of Euroroute 1, between Rosslare and Larne.

Earlier this year the protesters lost their attempt to have the road stopped at a hearing in the High Court and, while they have spoken of an appeal to the European Commission to halt funding, many of them yesterday conceded that today is probably their last legal opportunity.

"We are worried that Wicklow County Council has not taken this seriously enough. They know now that there are tunnels in the woods. These could collapse and people could be injured. It is very serious and we want them to realise that if they come storming in they could do a lot of harm," said one protester.

The protesters have decided to stop identifying themselves following complaints by the council that those now camped at the glen are not those who originally gave an undertaking to restrict the numbers at the camp.

"There are about 30 of us there now," said one yesterday. "People are coming back all the time and that is why we are seeking a meeting with the police to ensure that there is no violence after the court ruling".

Asked if that meant they accepted they were going to lose the Supreme Court hearing, the protester said they were just being "prudent".

"The awful part of this road is that it has been painted as a compromise proposal. The council says it will only take a sliver of land and plant more trees than it removes. But the truth of it is that vast amounts of north Wicklow have been zoned for housing. The design life of that road-widening scheme is just five years at best. Nobody wants to mention what happens then.

"We are sure that this would not comply with the criteria for sustainability, and if we complain to Europe our complaint may well be upheld and Ireland fined, but it will be too late for the glen."

During the past 2 1/2 years the protesters have lived in a variety of makeshift "benders", branch frames covered with tarpaulin and straw bedding. Recently they moved from their original camp to a car-park in the woods when they discovered that they were having a significant impact on the environment.

Mr George Jones (Fine Gael), chairman of Wicklow County Council, has criticised the camp and alleged that its members are frightening people away from the glen and damaging the amenity which they have come to save.