Public exhibition for Dungiven Park and Ride scheme to open next week

Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon has announced details of a public exhibition event as part of the Department’s ongoing pre-application community consultation for the proposed new Park and Ride at Dungiven.

The facility, which will be located to the southwest of Dungiven town, at the new Feeny Road Junction along the A6 Dungiven to Drumahoe dual carriageway, will provide 207 spaces, (including 10 disabled spaces) as well as bus shelters and cycle racks.  The consultation launched on January 24. 

Due to public health guidance at the time an online engagement event for the local community was held.  In light of the recent changes in the health advice, the Department now plans to hold a public exhibition and officials will be available on Wednesday, March 23 to speak face to face to the local community and interested stakeholders.

Minister Mallon said: “Last year I was delighted to announce plans for a new Park and Ride at Dungiven and in January we moved to the next phase of delivery with the opening of a pre-planning application community consultation to allow us to share more detail with the local community and respond to any comments. 

“My officials held an online engagement event due to the public health advice at the time so I am pleased to confirm that we are now in a position to host a public exhibition event where members of the public and other interested parties will have the opportunity to speak directly to my officials.   

“A public exhibition of information about the proposed Park and Ride will be on display at Dungiven Library from Monday 21 March to Saturday 26 March.

Representatives from my Department will be in attendance at a public drop-in event on Wednesday 23 March from 2pm to 7pm, so I would encourage anyone who is interested in or has any questions or comments about the proposed development to come along.

“The development of the Dungiven Park and Ride is one of a number of schemes I am committed to progressing across Northern Ireland.  

"Moreover, as I work to deliver the change our society needs, I want citizens to work in partnership with us to transform our local communities and deliver that lasting change.

"Therefore I would urge the local community to respond to the consultation process, by coming along to the event or responding online through my Department’s website by 5pm on 25 April so we can deliver more together.”

Park and Ride location 'completely unsafe' says campaigner

A Co Derry man has launched an online petition calling for the Department to reconsider.

SDLP East Derry MLA Cara Hunter has welcomed the exhibition event and has encouraged the public to have their say as part of the ongoing community consultation.

Ms Hunter said: “I am glad that as a result of the change in Covid-19 guidance we are now able to have a public exhibition for the new Dungiven Park and Ride.

"This will allow local people to come along and find out more about the plans for the new park and ride that will be a significant boost to this community and to engage with Department for Infrastructure officials and ask any questions they may have.

“This is an important project for this area, it will make it easier for people to decide to use public transport by providing improved accessibility and facilities for both pedestrians and drivers and have knock on benefits for our environment by removing vehicles and the harmful emissions they produce from our roads.

“People in Dungiven often rely on public transport to travel to Belfast, Derry and other parts of the North for everything from work to university or to socialise with friends and this new park and ride will result in a much-improved experience for them.

“I’d like to thank SDLP Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon for continuing to drive this project forward and I’d encourage everyone in our community to have their say.”

Further information about the proposed development and how to respond to the consultation is available on the Department’s website. 

The public exhibition will be at Dungiven Library which is located at 107 Main Street, Dungiven from Monday, March 21 to Saturday, March 26 (subject to library opening hours).  The public drop-in event is on Wednesday, March 23 from 2pm to 7pm.   

'Nothing untoward' found during County Derry policing operation