Sir, - On my daily trek to Dublin I pass the Glen of the Downs. Every time I am repelled by the utter mess that these neo-tree-loving-hippies have made in the name of environmentalism. I am an environmentalist at heart but the fact is that Wicklow needs this dual-carriageway urgently.
The issue here is simple. The cost to the Irish taxpayer of circumnavigating the glen would be immense. Despite the necessary minor felling, the net gain in afforested areas nationally is incredible. For example, the area of State forests increased from 1,200 hectares to 430,000 hectares between 1922 and 1995. So the State is undisputedly doing its part to aid afforestation.
Contemplate the amount of tree-planting work these hippies could have accomplished in the months since they took over the glen. This is a key question if indeed their primary aim actually is the protection of the environment and not some egotistical and infantile "sing-around-the-fire" holiday which is causing a major disruption for the economy of Wicklow and her hard-working people. I wonder are they claiming the dole at the expense of Wicklow and Irish taxpayers while simultaneously disrupting our lives. - Yours, etc.,
Emmet Stokes
Inchanappa, Ashford, Co Wicklow.