Stormont Minister Signals A5 Slow-down

The future of a major cross-border road project is now up for review with news that the Stormont Regional Development Minister, Danny Kennedy, is to look again at plans for the western corridor development.

"I will be looking closely at the level of proposed investment on roads such as the A5," said the newly appointed Ulster Unionist Stormont Executive member.

He said that his emphasis would be on backing sustainable transport and improved road and water infrastructure to support economic growth and social wellbeing.

The Minister said: "Planning for the long term development of the region is important to everyone living in Northern Ireland.

"It is, therefore, essential that we bring forward strategies that support the economy, the environment and help address the needs of the individual."

While he will look afresh at this specific project, his comments did underline that the construction sector is in for a fillip anyway: "I have already referred to the importance of improving the strategic road network," he said.

However, Danny Kennedy added: "There are sizeable pressures on the capital budget in the Department and difficult choices will have to be made over the next four years to deliver the best services and infrastructure in water and sewerage, roads, public transport and strategic development."

In November 2009, there was the first of several intensive discussions on the 'road ahead' as an Ulster Unionist (UU) MLA joined a UU peer to look at local concerns over the proposed A5 Transport Corridor.

Lord Laird of Artigarvan and transport specialist Brian Guckian met MLA Tom Elliott - now the UU party's leader - to discuss concerns they had over being 'railroaded' into the planned cross-border route - which then enjoyed substantial support from the former Regional Development Minister, Sinn Fein's Conor Murphy.

The Irish Government also backed the development of a dual carriageway road for the full length of the A5 between the border at Aughnacloy and Derry-Letterkenny.

However, UU Leader Tom Elliot is on record as saying that while the prospect of an upgrade was welcome, that would not be at any cost.

"Opposition to these plans is based on a number of factors, from the environmental and personal impact of the build and of increased traffic, to the financial cost. These are all justified concerns and must be given a fair hearing," he said.

These worries led to Conor Murphy announcing earlier this year that a Public Inquiry would indeed be held into the proposed A5 Western Transport Corridor dualling project.

He said the formal consultation period associated with the project, which ran from 15 November 2010 until 21 January, attracted over 2,000 objections.

"I welcome the interest in the project and hope that many of the matters of concern can be addressed either before or at the Public Inquiry which is likely to commence in May 2011," he said.

See: A5 'Road' Plan Debated

See: A5 Road Project Facing Inquiry

(BMcC/GK)