Sir, - Cllr Dermot Lacey (January 12th) finds it objectionable that we would single out local politicians who are proposing to reinstate the Eastern Bypass into the city's development plan.
We wrote to all 52 local representatives on Dublin City Council in November 1998 to object to this proposal. Our objection was based on our belief that, if built, the tunnel would render the Northern Port Access Route futile, and divert additional commuter traffic into neighbouring suburbs in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown. It would also deprive the Exchequer of vast sums which could be invested in employment-generating public transport projects.
All recent evidence suggests that orbital motorways and link roads fail to deliver traffic relief because instead they generate so much additional commuter traffic. Our position is simple: we support policies that deliver a reduction in traffic and pollution.
Somehow Cllr Lacey is able to state authoritatively in the absence of any environmental appraisal that a £500 million motorway tunnel bored under a bird sanctuary and through residential communities will be a "positive, environmentally friendly way of tackling port access".
In our own experience of surveying public transport users, people overwhelmingly support greater investment in public transport, especially better bus services. Interestingly, one of the routes singled out by weary bus queues for special mention during a recent survey was the No 3 (infrequent and always full), which runs directly through the Lord Mayor's constituency (also that of Cllrs Lacey and Ryan).
Cllr Lacey seems to be uncomfortable with the idea that we might have a voice at all; that, without being politically motivated, we can nonetheless distinguish between good and bad political policies. He seems to believe that we are politically biased just because we have political objectives!
Let me repeat: we do not apologise for publicly criticising those who are unsympathetic to the plight of public transport users and who support expensive, polluting and redundant solutions to Dublin's gridlock. - Yours, etc., Sadhbh O'Neill,
Rathmines, Dublin 6.