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Infrastructure Minister Plans Appeal Over A5 Decision
Stormont’s infrastructure minister announced plans to appeal a judgement that halted the construction of the new A5 dual carriageway in its current form. The £1.7bn project spanning 58 miles had been given the green light by Stormont ministers in October the previous year. However, a court ruling in June found that the Department for Infrastructure’s plans for the road did not align with climate change targets.
The A5 road is a crucial part of the major arterial route connecting Donegal, Londonderry, and Dublin. More than 50 fatalities have occurred on the A5 since 2006, prompting calls for an upgrade. Minister Kimmins stated that the decision to appeal was made after extensive consideration and that significant efforts were being made to ensure the appeal process was robust.
Despite facing criticism for the timing of the appeal decision, Kimmins emphasized the importance of challenging the ruling and expressed determination to expedite the road’s construction. The official opposition, SDLP, expressed regret over the delay in lodging the appeal and urged the minister to address the court’s concerns promptly. The judicial review proceedings leading to the court’s decision involved a group of residents, landowners, and farmers who contested the project, citing concerns about breaching climate change targets.
The judgement blocking the A5 upgrade highlighted the need to align infrastructure projects with government climate change goals. While safety campaigners expressed disappointment over the ruling, they acknowledged the potential for remedying the project’s shortcomings. The A5 road, vital for Northern Ireland’s road network, connects various towns and has experienced multiple delays since its announcement in 2007
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