Dual carriageway flood risk needs to be addressed, says MLA

DUP MLA Gary Middleton wants the Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd to address any flood risk on the A5

A flood risk which could delay an upgrade to part of the A5 road project needs to be addressed, a Democratic Unionist Party assembly member has said.

The long awaited road project was finally given the go ahead on Wednesday, but work will only begin on phase one of the project between Ballygawley and Strabane.

Foyle assembly member Gary Middleton said a Planning Appeals Commission (PAC) report into the scheme raised "significant problems" with that section between Strabane and Newbuildings, outside Londonderry, "not least flood risk along the River Foyle".

Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd confirmed on Wednesday that work on the £1.2bn scheme would begin in 2025. His department said it was looking at ways of reducing the flood risk.

Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd making the announcement on Wednesday with First Minister Michelle O'Neill (left) and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly (right)

Speaking on North West Today, Middleton said he would seek "formal clarity" from the minister about the Newbuildings section of the upgrade.

"I think there are many people will be disappointed that the entire scheme hasn't been announced," Middleton said.

"We received a statement from the minister yesterday (Wednesday) and we need to interrogate in terms of the detail because there are some snippets of information in there that we need to find out more information on.

"What we don't want to do is have is see a section of the road is progressed and then it causes severe problems down the line."

The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) said it was looking at ways of reducing the flood risk.

Speaking on Wednesday, O'Dowd said phase one was half of the total project, 34 miles out of the total 53 miles.

He said he would make formal decisions on the remainder of the project in due course.

Previously, a PAC report had raised potential issues with work being carried out on the section near Newbuildings relating to a potential "flood risk" to properties anywhere in the Foyle flood plain if work was to go ahead.

'Clarity needed'

Caoimhe O'Brien and her mother Marie

A woman whose daughter was killed in a crash on the A5 near Newbuildings said the entire project must be completed.

Caoimhe O'Brien died in 2016 on the road between Londonderry and Strabane.

Caoimhe's mother, Marie O'Brien, said upgrading that section of the road was incredibly important to her.

"Caoimhe died between Strabane and Newbuildings so the sooner that gets done the better for me," she said.

"It's good that work is starting anywhere, but the other part [Newbuildings section] is the part that is important to me.

"That I don't have to drive past where Caoimhe died every time I go down that road.

"It's not easy to drive past where your child died, it gets harder."

Caoimhe O'Brien, who was killed in a crash on the A5 in 2016

A DfI spokesperson said work was “ongoing to consider and address the PAC recommendations”.

“The minister is confident that the issues raised by the PAC can be resolved in due course, in line with his statutory obligations, and did not see a reason to delay progress in other parts of the scheme,” the spokesperson added.

Farmers 'left in limbo'

Meanwhile, the Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) said "clearer communication" was needed from the department in relation to the A5, saying farmers had been "left in limbo" for years.

UFU president William Irvine said: “It is positive that the Northern Ireland Executive is working to improve road safety, it is of the upmost importance to everyone.

“From today, clear communication is needed so that our farmers know where they stand on this road development.

"For years, they have been left in limbo with no engagement from government and when we contacted a number of departments about the A5, the response was anything but satisfactory."

Mr Irvine said "clearer communication" is "critical to ensure the farmers affected are "treated fairly, and so that the development can get under way as quickly as possible benefiting everyone travelling in that area".