A bypass planned for the Donegal towns of Bundoran and Ballyshannon is causing a row between Donegal and Leitrim County Councils. In summer both towns become badly congested, with tourist coaches and cars joining local and commercial traffic on the main road from Galway and Sligo to north Donegal and Derry.
This road is the main west coast artery and is of major importance for the region's economic development. The proposed bypass does not allow access from the R280, the road up the centre of Leitrim, which links the towns of Carrick-on-Shannon, Drum shanbo and Manorhamilton with Bundoran.
When the plan became public Leitrim County Council made its objections known but the plan was not altered. Last month a meeting in Manorhamilton attracted about 200 people from organisations and business interests around the county. Local TDs and councillors concerned about the implications of the plan for Leitrim's economic development also attended.
A steering committee was formed to fight the plan and it was agreed to send a deputation to the Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey.
However, the proposed route may not survive in its present form anyway.
The plan was the subject of an oral hearing last month, and a number of objections were made. A residents' group in Ballyshannon is opposed to it because the bypass would run within 10 feet of a number of houses and would cut off one part of the town from the rest.
Projected noise levels were also the source of objections.
Mr Pat O'Malley, chairman of Ballyshannon town commissioners and PRO for the residents, told The Irish Times that when the river flowing through the town was taken into account, the town would be cut in four by this "superhighway".
The residents' group disputed the evidence given to the oral hearing by the council's expert witness on expected noise levels.
The chairman of the hearing, Mr Oliver Feehan, told the county council to re-examine the noise levels and to have them checked by an independent expert. The hearing was adjourned and the new data will be examined when it resumes. This is expected to be in the autumn.
Mr O'Malley said that the council had agreed Ballyshannon could employ its own consultant to take sound readings of the traffic noise.
But the other issues are likely to resurface at a resumed hearing. Ms Marian Harkin, former European Parliament candidate for the Connacht constituency, says the Border Regional Authority might want input into the planned road. "If they had input the council might want to revisit it," she said, adding that she would be surprised if individual members of the council would deny the R280 access to the proposed bypass.
A spokesman for Donegal County Council said he did not want to pre-empt the resumed oral hearing. "Submissions were made and it's up to An Bord Pleanala now," he said.