Council seeking urgent meeting with Infrastructure Minister on A5 upgrade

Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council Ruairí McHugh has expressed “disappointment” at the A5 judgement.

An Executive decision to proceed with the A5 upgrade was quashed by Mr Justice McAlinden at the High Court in Belfast.

Speaking at Wednesday’s full Council meeting, Mayor McHugh said: “First and foremost my thoughts are obviously with the families of those relatives who have lost loved ones along that road in the intervening years.

“That was certainly brought home to me yesterday because I had a private meeting with members of the Road Victim Support - Derry, Strabane and Donegal group. Listening to their stories and how that decision had re-traumatized them, my heart obviously goes out to them first and foremost.

“But obviously on the decision not to proceed at this stage, I am sure Minister Kimmins will be absorbing the fairly lengthy ruling from the judge and we will support her in her comments that she still intends to proceed with the road at as early an opportunity as possible.”

Furthering the discussion, Cllr Paul Boggs tabled a motion, seconded by Cllr Christopher Jackson proposing the Council committed to “working with the minister” to see the A5 project proceeding “as soon as possible”.

The full text of the motion, which was passed unanimously, read: “That this Council writes to the Minister for Infrastructure to record our devastation in the light of the recent High Court ruling on the A5, and repledges this Council’s full support for the A5 upgrade.

“Council welcomes the commitment from the Minister to work constructively with the A5/N2 Cross Border working group at its meeting this week and supports the Minister assessing the judgement and urgently considering options for a way forward.

“Council commits to working with the other four councils who have an interest in this project and writes to them directly asking them to also repledge their support to working with the minister to see this project proceed as soon as possible. Also seek an immediate and urgent meeting with the Minister and the four relevant Councils.”

Cllr John Boyle said he thought it was important Council spoke with one voice “to express our disbelief and our disappointment and indeed the despair that yesterday's judgment was met with”.

He said: “Ultimately there are lives being lost, there are families being destroyed by lack of activity and lack of leadership shall we say and it's inexcusable.

“The first responsibility of any government and any government minister should be to protect the lives of our citizens and I say that across the board, that's what we are all supposed to be doing but yesterday's shocking judgment points to significant failures at executive and ministerial and departmental level. Evidently somebody dropped the ball and they dropped it very, very badly.

“The SDLP stands 100% behind the bereaved families in particular and it's them that we think of today. They are the people who are in the biggest and most despair in relation to this particular issue.”

Cllr Shaun Harkin (PBP) it had been known for a long time that the A5 needed a serious upgrade.

“This ruling is disappointing and I do think we need to be sensitive to the fact people will be despairing about this but I also think that we should not allow that to limit what we have to say about about this because this strikes me as a serious government failure on behalf of the Department and the Minister,” he added.

Ald Derek Hussey (UUP) endorsed the sentiments expressed in relation to those who had “lost kith and kin along the A5 over the years”.

He said: “I would also ask members to be mindful of those whose lands are being impacted upon and the issues that they have as to the uncertainty of what's happening going forward.

“I welcome the motion in that this brings the opportunity for all of those issues to be brought to the fore. I agree there have been failures in government. This has been on the cards since I left the assembly in 2007. It was agreed in 2007 that the A5 dual carriageway would go ahead and we are still waiting.

“What have ministers been doing in the meantime? I include all ministers who have been within that department in that criticism. The meeting is welcome.

“A new transport corridor is needed. Whether the current proposal is the way to go about it given the situation that has arisen but that meeting is needed and a solution is needed to be found for the transportation of goods and people along that route going forward.”