Mallow relief road must not slip off agenda
PRIORITY must be given to the construction of a northern relief road around Mallow given that the proposed M20 Cork – Limerick road is likely to be shelved.
That's the view of Mallow Town Mayor Dan Joe Fitzgerald, who said it was incumbent on Mallow Town Council to ensure that the issue is not allowed to "slip off the agenda".
Speaking at the February meeting of the local authority, Cllr Fitzgerald pointed out that the process of lobbying for the relief road started long before the M20 was first mooted.
"We held back because we were advised that the M20 would be a better overall plan. In light of recent developments I believe we must now restart that process to ensure that the relief road is given the priority that it so clearly merits," said Cllr Fitzgerald.
He said the Northern area committee of Cork County Council has sought a deputation with Transport Minister Leo Varadkar regarding the M20.
"In light of the concerns surrounding the future of the M20, it is vitally important that the northern relief road not be allowed to slip off the agenda," said Cllr Fitzgerald.
Sinn Fein's Willie O'regan said that he always maintained the M20 proposal was little more than "fairytalk".
"For Minister Varadkar to suggest to Deputy Tom Barry that it was still on the agenda is more fairytalk. This makes it all the more important that we keep the northern relief road on the agenda," he added.
Fine Gael's Noel O'connor said that it was clear the M20 was a non-starter. "The Minister is not going to change his mind at this stage. The blueprints are already in place for a relief road. These should now be used to salvage something out of the whole M20 project," he insisted.
- BILL BROWNE
