Bridge crossing plans in jeopardy

Plans for the €40m Shannon Bridge Crossing are heading for choppy waters after a leading environmental campaigner confirmed his intention to seek a judicial review.

Peter Sweetman has instructed Harrington and Co solicitors to obtain leave from the High Court for a judicial review of An Bord Pleanála’s decision on Mar 27 to grant planning permission for the project subject to 11 conditions.

This includes the €12m Shannon Bridge Crossing, €11.9m Killaloe bypass, and upgrading works costing €16.6m on the road linking Ballina and Birdhill.

Clare mayor Pat Daly said he would be very disappointed if any party proceeded with a judicial review in view of the benefits of the project. “Killaloe is crying out for a new bridge crossing for years,” he said. “People in Ballina and Killaloe have put up with traffic delays on the existing bridge for long enough.”

The future of the N6 Galway City Outer Bypass was thrown into jeopardy on April 11 after the European Court of Justice upheld an appeal lodged by Mr Sweetman.

The court said the construction of the Galway bypass through the Lough Corrib site would destroy about 1.47 hectares of protected limestone pavement “a priority” habitat under the EU Habitats Directive.

Mr Sweetman claimed there are similarities between the Galway bypass case and the need to protect an alluvial wet woodland on the western side of the River Shannon near Killaloe.

“The alluvial wet woodland is like the one in the Galway bypass case,” he said. “I believe the State cannot use the lack of designation of a priority habitat for destroying it. I believe the board got this wrong, like the Galway case.”