Madam, - May I reply to David FitzGerald's letter of March 31st about the proposed new road connecting the Dundrum Town Centre with Balally and the Sandyford Industrial Estate.
I know the area very well, having lived on Stoney Road for over 34 years, and there are already enough roads linking Goatstown/Dundrum with the Sandyford Industrial Estate and onwards to Enniskerry or the N11. The proposed new road is completely unnecessary, will be very expensive (with proposed new bridges, possible tunnels, etc.) and will seriously affect the Airfield Model Farm, which was left to the people of Dublin and Dundrum by the Overend sisters (whom I remember quite well).
A large portion of the Airfield Farm has already been taken to build the Wyckham bypass, and this new "extension" would take a further chunk - with the possibility of more to follow.
I feel that Mr FitzGerald is being a bit over-the-top with his claim that if this road is not built, then "we have reached the stage where heritage has a higher value than children's lives". - Yours, etc.,
BARRY McHUGH, Glencairn Road, Dublin 18.