World Heritage expert makes his presentation to the Oral Hearing.

21st February 2011

Dr Douglas Comer of Cultural Site Research and Management based in Baltimore in the USA delivered his report to the Bord Pleanála Oral Hearing today. Dr Comer had been engaged by Meath County Council to carry out a study of the likely impacts on the Brú na Bóinne World Heritage Site. This was done on the recommendation of the Bord following the initial submission onn the Environmental Impact Statement made by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The DoEHLG are the state institution ultimately responsible for the management of the World Heritage Site.

Dr Comer noted that a number of significant adverse intrusions existed in the environs of the World Heritage warned of the likely view that might be taken by an ICOMOC/UNESCO Reactive Monitoring Mission to the cumulative negative impact of these developments combined with the likely negative impact of the proposed Slane Bypass.

However, Dr Comer did conclude by saying that the detrimental effects on the Outstanding Universal Value of the Brú na Bóinne World Heritage Site that would be caused by the construction of the proposed Slane bypass might mitigated if it were possible to demonstrate to ICOMOS/UNESCO that

(i) all reasonable alternatives had been considered and were clearly shown to be non-viable

and

(ii) assurances could be given that the bypass would not attract 'knock-on' associated development that would be visible from points within the WHS.

Dr Comer's report may be downloaded HERE and is also available on the Meath County Council website.

The report on Dr Comer's presentation in the Irish Times may be accessed HERE.
Comments made by Dr Comer in subsequent cross-questioning are reported on HERE and HERE.

The coverage by the Meath Chronicle may be read HERE.

 

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