Madam — We empathise with Environment Editor Frank McDonald having to try to summarise the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) of the Dart Underground Project, given the volume of material in the EIS (Home News, August 4th).
However, it is strange that he concludes that St Stephen’s Green will be the principal casualty of the Dart Underground and Metro North projects.
Having read the complete EIS, we believe that as a residential community, East Wall will suffer the most adverse impacts from the Dart Underground project as currently proposed. The construction phase is projected to last nine years in East Wall. This is longer than any other works along the route.
The majority of the waste material from tunnel boring (1.5 million cubic metres) will be transported by truck along the streets of East Wall and North Wall. There will be approximately 390 trucks moving through East Wall, each day.
Adverse impacts include 24/7 working hours for the majority of construction in East Wall because, the “tunnel boring machines cannot be stopped for safety reasons”. However, the machines can be stopped in the event of an emergency or when they are likely to interfere with concerts in the Grand Canal or Gaiety theatres!
While East Wall suffers the vast majority of the adverse impacts of this project, it will not have the benefit of a train station. The proposed Docklands station will be approximately 30 minutes’ walk for most residents of East Wall. While residents will have to endure the increased noise levels, associated pollution and negative visual impact of the “20 trains, in each direction, per hour” at peak capacity, they will not be able to use one without a lengthy walk.
The underlying message of the EIS is that it’s okay to pollute East Wall with excessive noise, vibration, dust, floodlights etc.
Irish Rail generates an already unacceptable level of noise and other emissions in East Wall and according to the EIS, the DART Underground will only make the pollution 3 per cent worse after mitigation, if the mitigation works, of course.
We would welcome an article by Mr McDonald on his view of the negative impact this project will have on a residential area such as East Wall. Yours, etc,
Madam, – Who will save our beautiful capital city from the ravages of the visually illiterate philistines of whom officialdom appears to be composed? Frank McDonalds article (Home News, August 4th) fills me with dismay. In whose interest is such destruction deemed necessary? Is there nobody of influence who will shout STOP? - Yours, etc,