Claims that the proposed by-pass of Carlow town will split communities and destroy the countryside were described as ridiculous by a county councillor yesterday.
On Sunday more than 100 protesters walked the most likely route of the planned by-pass, which they have dubbed "the highway from hell", carrying placards with messages such as "Carlow for People - Not for Cars" and "Protect the Rural Countryside".
However, Cllr Jim Townsend, who spoke in favour of the by-pass at a public meeting last week, believes the development will bring enormous benefits. The by-pass will form part of the planned Waterford-Dublin highway, and Carlow, situated in the middle, would be ideally placed to attract new industry availing of the improved access to ports 50 miles in each direction, he said.
It would also make Carlow more attractive for people who wished to shop in the town, by removing 46 per cent of the traffic which currently passes through the town without stopping.
"This won't affect local traffic one bit. The idea is not to put roundabouts or traffic lights on the by-pass, but to provide flyovers and underpasses for minor roads. Some people talk about this as if there's going to be a wall built between communities," he added.
Another county councillor, the Green Party's Ms Mary White, who took part in Sunday's walk, claims the by-pass plan is misguided and would cause the destruction of some of the most scenic parts of Carlow.
"This is not simply another case of saying `not in my back yard', but an attempt to draw attention to the plight of the rural environment and the many, many rural land-owners who live along the proposed bypass option known as route 18," she said.
The route begins in Co Kildare on the Castledermot-Carlow road, by-passes Carlow to the east and links up again with the current N9 just inside the Carlow-Kilkenny border. It is one of several routes still under consideration, but is considered the most likely to be chosen when the council makes a decision early next year.