Is it fair to charge for usage for the full length of the M50?

According to a study by the National Roads Authority there has been an increase in usage of the M50 by 26% since 2008. Most likely because the M50 now works as an efficient ring road to bypass the city, keeping congestion out and getting road users home relatively quickly.

The report  suggests that 4 new toll points should be put in place along the M50, these tolls would possibly net around €100m a year in revenue.

As it stands the M50 is only tolled for drivers who use the Westlink Bridge. The bridge was built by NTR and opened in 1990 and was the first tolled stretch of motorway in the country. NTR were granted a licence to toll the bridge for 30 years.

The NRA bought the Westlink in 2008 for €600m but it also cost around €1bn to upgrade the M50 (that's about €31.2m per kilometer)

Approximately 100,000 drivers use the Westlink per day but the number of cars which use the M50 per day is thought to be three times this number.

The government have come out and said that they do not intend to add any new tolls to the M50.  If they were to add tolls it could be seen as a fairer tolling policy for people who use the entire length of the M50 or it could end up costing those who cross the Westlink  even more in accumulated tolls.

One obvious problem would be increased traffic in the city and minor roads as drivers try to avoid yet another road charge. Thus reducing the amount of people who use the M50 and lowering projected revenues.

Do you want to spread the burden of M50 Tolls or would you rather keep the current system in place?

We don't think it will happen soon, but it is likely to be somewhere in the future. Leo Varadkar has said he has no plan to introduce the tolls. however if we are faced with the congestion which was part of the daily grind of the M50  once more should it at least be considered?

Playlist for Wednesday 5/6/13

4-5
David Bowie - Modern Love
Drums - Lets go surfing
Dodgy - Good Enough
Jagwar Ma - Come save Me
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Fortunate Son
Supergrass - Moving
The Drifters - Up on the roof
Teddybears - Punkrockers
The Best Coast - The Only Place
Cure - Just Like Heaven
Hollies - I'm Alive
Janelle Monae - Tightrope
Les Enfants - Celeste

5-6
Doors - Break on through
Basement Jaxx - Rendez vu
Aretha Franklin - Respect
M83 - Midnight City
Kim Carnes - Betty Davis Eyes
Lemaitre - Cut to black
Foo Fighters - Learn To Fly
NONONO - Pumpin Blood
Sneaker Pimps - Six Underground
Stevie Wonder - Uptight
Knocking Ghost - Distractions
Buggles - Video killed the radio star

6-7
Vampire Weekend - Unbelievers
Blur - Song 2
Little Dragon - Ritual Union
Beatles - Revolution
Laura Marling - Where can I go?
C2C - Happy
New Radicals - you get what you give
Caravan Palace - Jolie Coquine
Frou Frou - Let Go
Daft Punk - Give life back to music
Paul Simon - Diamonds on the soles of her shoes

Middle lane hoggers to be punished in the UK.

So the UK are introducing a number of new road fines based on anti social driver behavior. Often when laws are introduced across the Irish Sea we quickly follow suit.

New fines will be introduced for tailgating, using the wrong lane on a roundabout and forcing your way into traffic. I can actually feel you all nod in approval.

Another measure being introduced is to tackle drivers who sit in the middle lane of a three lane motorway. Under the new laws, if you hog the middle lane of a motorway you will be fined £100 and get penalty points.

How would you feel about the same penalties coming in here?

Bio Blitz St Annes Park

Local BioBlitz 2013, Biodiversity Count , St Anne’s Park , Red Stables and Bull Island 7th – 8th of June

Want to get involved in a biodiversity count in St Anne's Park, Bull Island and Red Stables?

“BioBlitz” is a biodiversity awareness raising event that aims provides the opportunity for the public to engage with nature and wildlife. It will be held in St Anne’s Park and the Bull Island on 8th June 2013. Biodiversity is all living things : the different plants, animals, soils and micro organisms , their genes and the ecosystems within which they survive. The event will also promote the Bull Island as a unique place for protected and rare wildlife. It will be held in conjunction with The National Biodiversity Data Centre. 

The BioBlitz is primarily a recording event where volunteer experts/scientists on biodiversity and the public get together for the day to identify and record as many species as possible in St Anne’s and Bull Island within a defined period and submit records to the National Biodiversity Data Centre. The Red Stables will be the headquarters for recording, scientific identification and announcement of the on-line species tally. Much of the identification will take place during guided walks, talks and activities which will be facilitated on by City Council staff, scientists, experts and nongovernmental organisations such as the Birdwatch Ireland, the Irish Wildlife Trust, Bat Conservation Ireland and the Irish Seal Sanctuary.

There's tons of extra things to do!

On the day there will be walks, talks and fun activities for families including • Launch of photographic exhibition on moths • Bat Walk and Talk (evening of 7th June) • Moth Trapping • Birdsong identification workshop • Seashore sampling/Razor worms /Sea Shells/Sea weed • Sand dunes Bull Island • Tree trail • Exploring Guinness Family woodlands • Pond dipping • Causeway walk for Bird watching • Seals • Bees and Butterflies • Wildflower meadows • Playing in Nature, Making Dens, Seashore play with Sand (DCC Children Service’s) • Beekeeping Demonstration by Federation of Irish Bee Keepers • Composting/ Creepy Crawlies providing eco services by “Master Composters “(Local Authority and Stop Food Waste Initiative). There will also be Library activities the week prior to the event.

Playlist for Tuesday 4.6.13

4-5
Semisonic - Closing Time
Two Door Cinema Club - Undercover Martyn
Dexys - Geno
They Might Be Giants - You're on fire
Queen - Fat Bottomed Girl
Les Enfants  - Celeste
Paul Simon - Kodachrome
Wild Beasts - Hooting & Howling
Michael Kiwanuka - Tell me a tale
Knocking Ghosts - Distractions
Real Estate - Its Real
Ram Jam - Black Betty
NONONO - Pumpin Blood

5-6
Us3 - Cantaloop
National - Bloodbuzz Ohio
Aretha Franklin - Respect
C2C - Happy
Bobby Womack - California Dreaming
Atlas Genius - Trojans
Booker T & The MGs - Green Onions
Hot Natured & Ali Love - Benediction
Wannadies - You & Me Song
Harry Belafonte - Day-O


6-7
Boy - Little Numbers
Daft Punk - Give life back to music
Laura Marling - Ghosts
Vampire Weekend - Unbelievers
Moby - In my heart
Lana Del Rey - Video Games
Stevie Wonder - For Once in my life
Rodrigo Y Gabriella - Mr Tang
Beach Boys - Good Vibrations
Rhye - The Fall
Frank Sinatra - I've got you under my skin
Cat Empire - Hello
Lemon Jelly - Nice weather for ducks

Sutton / Howth Rd Delays Sunday the 9th

Cemetery Sunday Mass will take place in St. Fintans’s Cemetery, Carrickbrack Road, Sutton on Sunday June 9th

Every year a huge amount of people attend this service so expect delays in the area. A number of traffic and parking restrictions will be in place. Restrictions are due to be in place from 1.30pm to 7pm.

If you don't have to travel in the area, I'd advise you to avoid tit.

Stop Go System in Wicklow - R760

A stop/go traffic management system will be in place on the R760 in Wicklow, from the entrance to Powerscourt to Tinnahinch Bridge, from tomorrow, Tuesday 4th June to Friday 21st June, between 8AM and 5 PM.

Works are being carried out by Powerscourt Estate and traffic restrictions will be in place to facilitate repairs to their boundary wall at 3 locations along the R760.