Campaigners hit out at £330m A5 project
Dairy farmer Gordon Smyth could see his 180acre holding in Newtownstewart split in two, if the original A5 plan is implemented
CAMPAIGNERS opposed to the A5 Londonderry to Dublin road have attacked the Executive for pledging £330 million for a scheme that is still the subject of a public inquiry.
On Tuesday, Roads Minister Danny Kennedy revealed that the investment could see work start on two sections of the new dual-carriageway as early as September.
This week’s announcement comes despite a decision by the Republic’s government to withdraw its offer of £400 million to the cross-border scheme, which was estimated to cost in excess of £800 million.
Members of the A5 Alliance believe the move by Stormont was designed to increase pressure on the Republic’s government to make good on their promise of funding for the road that would connect Donegal with Dublin.
“When I first heard the announcement, I thought it was good news, it looked as though they were going to upgrade the existing road,” Co Tyrone farmer Gordon Smyth said yesterday.
“But as the day went on, we realised what they are talking about is going ahead with the original plan, but only doing two sections of it.”
Mr Smyth, who runs a dairy farm with his two sons Stuart and Graham, could see his 180-acre holding outside Newtownstewart cut in half if more money is found to complete the rest of the scheme.
He is just one of up to 3,000 farmers and landowners who will be affected if the ambitious highway is realised.
“After this announcement we have been left in limbo. We don’t know if this road will come through our land or not,” he said.
“But it looks as if the powers that be in Stormont want to push ahead with it regardless of the public inquiry findings, or the withdrawal of the Irish government money.
“It is very difficult to understand how the politicians believe this road will bring back prosperity to the north west, not to mention spending hundreds of millions on it as well.”
John Dunbar, who chairs the A5 Alliance, said he was “simply stunned” by the £330 million funding pledge.
“The first thing that comes to mind is that they have granted all this money to the A5 even before the findings of the public inquiry have been released,” said John, who will also lose around 15 acres of farmland.
“There is a feeling that the politicians have brushed aside all due process. Our leaders have let us down.
“A lot of people spent a lot of time and energy speaking out at the public inquiry, but it looks as if that has all been in vain after this announcement.”
Mr Dunbar, a retired teacher, also challenged the benefits of the road scheme that have been put forward by the politicians.
“We have carried out our research, looking at studies from other universities, and they all say the same thing – that an improved roadway will not in itself lead to economic growth,” he said.
“This is clearly a political decision and they now want to put pressure on the Irish government to find more money to complete the original A5 plan. I don’t think that is any way to go about such a major scheme like this.
“I think Danny Kennedy, the roads minister, has been put in an impossible situation by the two main parties.
“I don’t believe that it is going to put bread into mouths in the Bogside or in Strabane. All it will do is create a bottleneck in Newbuildings and destroy rich farmland and the lives of those who have lived here for generations.”
The investment will mean that work could go ahead on the scheme between Londonderry and Strabane, and Omagh and Ballygawley.
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
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