The National Roads Authority and Cork County Council yesterday received a boost when the majority of objectors to a €148 million bypass of Mitchelstown on the N8 withdrew their objections to the compulsory purchase of land for the road.
Some 45 of the 59 objectors to the 16km stretch of motorway from Moorepark outside Fermoy to Carrigane near Kilbehenny announced that they were withdrawing their objections to the proposal on the second day of an An Bord Pleanála hearing on the plan.
Auctioneer Aidan O'Brien, who was representing some 20 objectors, and agricultural consultant Dick Collins, who was representing a further 25 objectors, confirmed yesterday afternoon that all of their clients were withdrawing their objections.
Both Mr O'Brien and Mr Collins had informed An Bord Pleanála inspector Michael Ward throughout the day when individual objectors were withdrawing their objections. At 3pm, both confirmed that all their clients had withdrawn their objections.
Among those who had objected but later withdrew their objections were several landowners including James Mullins and James Roche from Ballybeg, Mitchelstown, who were concerned that their farms are to be divided by the new dual-carriageway.
Yesterday's withdrawal of 45 objections leaves some 14 objectors on record.
But none of these 14 were present when they were invited by Mr Ward to submit evidence, so the only evidence presented to the hearing was that presented by the county council.
The hearing convened by An Bord Pleanála came on foot of an application by the council to confirm its Compulsory Purchase Order to acquire 192 hectares of land along the route from 134 landowners, including 49 farmers.
David Holland SC, for the council, called a number of expert witnesses yesterday to testify on the impact of the proposed roadway.
