Evening Herald, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2000

ٱ I HAVE A DREAM: William A Thomas describes his new £75bn city as his friend and advisor Eddie Coughlin looks on. PICS: Ted Albracht

Slick city dream for £75bn

Gates, Branson
invited on board
top new project

WILLIAM A Thomas is a man with a mission. He wants to build a new city from scratch on a West of Ireland greenfield site at a cost of around £75 billion.

An impossible dream?

The 37-year-old defence consultant doesn't think so.

Now Environment Minister Noel Dempsey is to include the plan in the National Spatial Strategy next year.

"That was a quantum leap," said Thomas, who has waged a virtual one man campaign to see his vision become reality.

Microsoft boss Bill Gates and Virgin's Richard Branson have also been invited to come on board.

The new city, 10 miles from Knock Airport, would relieve Dublin's congestion and throw a real lifeline to the West, said Thomas.

"It would include all that is good about Dublin, including the e-commerce.

"But it won't include huge housing estates which are a scandal to the nation and future seed beds for crime."

The new city could largely be built with private money, along the lines of the Canary Wharf financial package in London.

Politicians from Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Labour have indicated support for the idea, he said.

"We are talking to 13 major international construction companies at present, and invitations have been sent to Richard Branson and Bill Gates to be part of the futuristic team."

ٱ THOMAS: in a field of his own

The plan for the new city proposes:

• That at least three Government Departments be based there.
• An underground rail network and light rail system.
• Underground car parking and wide boulevards.
• houses, apartments and duplexes in spatial, detached developments with spacious gardens and parks with a growth potential of up to 250,000 in 20 years.
• A large international hospital, based on the Mayo Clinic.