Meath County Council announce 'balloon test' over the River Boyne

4th March 2011

Meath County Council announce intention to conduct a 'balloon test' to test the potential visibility of the proposed bridge over the River Boyne between Slane Bridge and Knowth on Friday 11th, Saturday 12th and Monday 14th March.

This test is being carried out at the suggestion of Dr Douglas Comer, independent World Heritage expert who recently gave evidence at the Bord Pleanála Oral Hearing. Although not routinely used in this country, this is a common approach used in the US in similar situations to the current proposed Slane Bypass to assess the likely actual effects on visibility of a proposed structure.

It is proposed to float two balloons, one either side of the river channel, at the height of the proposed bridge to directly assess the likely visibility. The balloons will be raised to two different heights; firstly to 18m, the height of the currently proposed 'mid height' bridge and then at 12m, the lower option presented in the EIS further information. This procedure will allow the photomontage images prepared for the original EIS and the Further Information to be tested.

The item on the Meath County Council website may be accessed HERE. Download a notice HERE.

Read coverage of the item in the Irish Times HERE.

Read the report in the Meath Chronicle HERE

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A 'blimp' type balloon similar to those to be used in the test.