‘No to M20 Navy Route’ meeting held in Whitechurch

A meeting held in Whitechurch last week saw Green Party councillors speak out against the plans for the Cork to Limerick motorway. Councillors spoke in support of upgrading the existing N20 and improving rail links between Cork and Limerick.

Green Party councillor of the Cobh Municipal District, Alan O’Connor, spoke about the impacts that the new motorway could have.

“Large scale road-building is no longer feasible, environmentally or economically. Of course, on a local level, we're looking at land fragmentation, air pollution, noise pollution. We already have one Old Mallow Road, we don't need another.

“The Welsh government recently decided to suspend all new road projects, and that's how we should be thinking too,” Cllr O’Connor said.

The ‘ No to M20 Navy Route’ campaign held the meeting on Thursday last, June 24 in opposition to the building of a new motorway parallel to the N20 from Cork to Limerick.

Farmers, business owners and residents spoke at the meeting, highlighting that over 6,000 acres of land will be needed for the new motorway. Estimates for the project were said to be in excess of €2 billion.

Green Party Councillor Oliver Moran of Cork City North East, also spoke out against the project, stating that the focus should be placed on upgrading existing roads.

“Make sensible upgrades of the existing road, including bypasses of Buttevant and Charleville and significant junction upgrades at Mallow, and continue to invest in railbased options. This month, €185m was announced by Eamon Ryan for upgrading the rail network in Cork,” Cllr Moran said.

“Instead of pipe dreams about motorways, start with the existing infrastructure between the two cities of Limerick and Cork and create safe sustainable commuter travel in between.”