A chara, – Green Party sources have angrily accused their Government colleagues of not getting it in relation to public transport and have suggested that building more roads will increase emissions (“Greens hit out at Coalition partners on roads”, News, July 27th).
To give just one example of a much-delayed road project, the upgrade of the N4 – on which I travel regularly – along the winding Mullingar to Longford stretch will simply make that treacherous section more safe. It has been the scene of numerous accidents over the years, many tragically fatal, and construction of a better (and likely shorter) road will not result in more vehicles or emissions, just fewer injuries and deaths.
Further along the N4, the ongoing deferral of the Carrick-on-Shannon bypass has resulted in the same amount of vehicles actually spending longer on the road, queuing to get through the town, pumping more carbon into the atmosphere as they idle. Again, a no-brainer if reducing emissions is our goal.
I’m a huge supporter of Green Party objectives and absolutely agree that we need to greatly improve public transport in this country.
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However, nonsensical blocking of essential road projects, demonstrating an almost wilful ignorance of the realities of life outside Dublin, only generates further antipathy towards that party which will undoubtedly manifest at the next election. Utterly counterproductive in the long run.
Once again it looks like it’s the Greens who need to wake up. – Is mise,
DAVID CARROLL,
Dublin 2.