Hearing on Gort bypass CPOs

Nearly 40 objections against the compulsory purchase order for the Gort Crusheen bypass were withdrawn yesterday on the first day of the Bord Pleanála oral hearing into the scheme. In all, 75 objections were initially lodged against the scheme by landowners along the 22km route.

Galway County Council is seeking to acquire compulsorily almost 500 acres of land in 103 farms along the route. The scheme is to also involve the severance of 845 acres of farmland.

Over the next 10 days, the environmental impact of the scheme is to be evaluated, while the hearing will also hear objections from landowners to the CPO.

Board inspector Danny O'Connor yesterday asked about the impact the proposed road could have on the reopening of the €74 million Ennis-Athenry rail line which runs for 4km very close to the road. Mr O'Connor also asked if the road would affect any plans by Iarnród Éireann to put in place a parallel second track.

John Haughey for Iarnród Éireann said a proposal to reopen the line had been lodged with the Government. The proposed works would not affect Iarnród Éireann's ability to reopen the line at the 4km stretch, while any plans to lay down a second track would not be affected as it lay farther away from the proposed road in the land owned by Iarnród Éireann.

For Galway County Council, David Cattley, an engineer with Babtie Petit, said the overall scheme would cost €209 million with construction costs at €156 million and could take three years to complete.

Ecologist Dr Brian Madden told the hearing that as much of the road passed through a karst landscape, disruption of underground watercourses could affect habitats such as turloughs.

The route would pass within 300m to 3km of nine designated special areas of conservation or national heritage areas. Dr Madden acknowledged that habitats would be significantly affected, however none of the sites identified was of national importance.

The hearing continues today.