MJ O'Connor Solicitors

Many communities in the Wexford environs have been shocked at the extent of the proposals for the N11 extension

 

Maps have just recently been posted to the Wexford County Council web site – www.wexford.ie/routeselection. The National Roads authority has also held public consultation meetings recently in Ferrycarrig Hotel.

 

Many people were unaware of the extent of the road proposals which have been on the agenda for some time as the part of the E1 auto route from Belfast to Rosslare.

 

The NRA has completed its Constraints Study and is now in the Route Selection Public Consultation Period.   Explanatory documents, the route maps and a questionnaire are all available from the Council web site.

 

The process will progress through the following stages:

 

Once the route is finalised the CPO process will begin in earnest and people affected will have an opportunity to state their case at oral hearings.

 

The current stage is route selection. Everyone should note that the council will accept comments and objections up to July 16^th.   It is critical that people affected or with views make a detailed submission to the Council on or before that date as once the preferred route is selected it will be very difficult to achieve any change.

 

Great uncertainty has been created by the choice of eight separate routes with alternative options. In some cases individual communities are affected by several of the routes. This is causing great hardship as people do not know whether or not their property will ultimately be affected. Sales have fallen through and people cannot plan for their properties. There are also the additional concerns that any compensation granted will not cover borrowings where people are in negative equity.

 

In response to client demands M J O’Connor has set up a specialist group to advise on the proposed CPO comprising partners John O’Leary and Brid O’Leary advising on the property and CPO aspects and partner Cormac Mullen advising on taxation implications.

 

M J O’Connor has considerable experience over the years in relation to public authority projects and most recently has represented clients at oral hearings on the New Ross by pass.