Funds for Delgany bypass allocated

The Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey, has allocated £750,000 for preparatory work on a bypass for Delgany, Co Wicklow. The move paves the way for Bord Pleanala to lift its embargo on housing development along the R762 between Delgany and Greystones. The bypass will go from Drummin on the N11, passing south of Delgany and crossing the Greystones to Kilcoole road before continuing to Greystones. Wicklow County Council's draft development plan envisages rezoning land to accommodate 2,000 houses. Traffic from a greatly enlarged Greystones will be able to access the N11 without travelling along narrow roads through Delgany. The bypass will also relieve traffic to Greystones along the R761 over Windgates, where there has been a number of fatalities in recent years.

While the allocation falls far short of the cost of the road, which is estimated to be in the region of £10 million, the progress of the plan will be seen as a result of the campaign by Delgany residents to oppose large-scale housing developments in the area. An Bord Pleanala has twice upheld the residents' view that no development should take place until an adequate road infrastructure was in place.

The allocation has been welcomed by local Fianna Fail TD Mr Dick Roche, who said that "residents in Delgany village and Windgates have been forced to suffer immeasurably over the years. With future development it is clear that residents would have suffered further. This grant will be supplemented by Wicklow County Council's own resources and monies which have been collected in the form of development levies. It is therefore very welcome."