The Freight Transport Association\u00a0(FTA)\u00a0is bitterly\u00a0disappointed in yet another delay in upgrading the vital A6 road between Belfast &\u00a0L\u2019Derry\u00a0following a judgement hearing at Belfast High Court (24 November).<\/p>\n
Work was originally due to commence in October but\u00a0confusion\u00a0over ongoing habitat checks and assessments and their impact on the overall scheme has led the judge to question the importance of these checks and whether their result could have halted the project.<\/p>\n
Leave was granted and there will now be a full hearing, probably in early 2017. Until then work cannot commence.<\/p>\n
Seamus Leheny,\u00a0Policy Manager for FTA in Northern Ireland, said:\u00a0\u201cQuestions must be asked of the Department for Infrastructure, specifically those involved in the scheme,\u00a0as to\u00a0why this has happened\u00a0\u2013\u00a0and in similar circumstances\u00a0to a legal challenge upheld against\u00a0the other main road to\u00a0L\u2019Derry,\u00a0the A5,\u00a0a few years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
FTA\u00a0is calling\u00a0on the\u00a0Department for Infrastructure and Minister Chris Hazzard to address this issue as\u00a0soon as possible\u00a0and ensure the legalities and best practice in planning and implementing the A6 scheme is not jeopardised any further.<\/p>\n
Mr\u00a0Leheny concluded: \u201cThe A6 is the main strategic road for transporting commercial goods between\u00a0L\u2019Derry, mid-Ulster and the wider North West\u00a0and it is vital that\u00a0the scheme gets back on track\u00a0as soon as possible\u00a0to ensure the economic wellbeing of local industry and of commercial vehicle operators using this\u00a0key transport corridor.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nSource: UKHaulier<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"