Residents are now being subjected to increased levels of noise that are excessive and above the maximum level recommended. The Dublin Area Noise Plan recommends a maximum of 60dB (decibels) during daytime and 50dB at night for frequency range. Incredibly, some residents are experiencing noise levels of over 95dB! Even where noise barriers have been erected, the noise levels are still in excess of what was stipulated in the Environmental Impact Statement.

Residents have launched the Laurel Lodge M50 Action Group to campaign for effective noise reduction/containment measures and have submitted alternative proposals to the NRA and M50 Concessions (the main contractor carrying out the upgrade works). It seems these proposals have been rejected by the contractor as being too costly. I’m shocked and angered that NRA/M50 Concessions had fobbed off the community in such an arrogant way.

Rarely have I encountered such arrogance displayed towards a community. The NRA and their contractors have ripped through the community with little regard for people of Laurel Lodge and have left a vista that can only be described as “scorched earth.” To now rub salt into the wounds by refusing to engage the community in meaningful talks and rectifying their mess, is quite astounding.

The only way to deal with bully-boy tactics like this is to up the ante and organise community-wide protests to force the NRA/M50 concessions to re-engage with residents on this issue.

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