East Antrim Ulster Unionist MLA Roy Beggs has responded to the Ministerial Statement made by DRD Minister Danny Kennedy MLA accepting the main recommendations of the Inspector’s Report on the Public Enquiry into the A8 Road Scheme.

The Minister’s statement opens the way for work to begin on the ground as early as next month (June).   Work is due to take two-and-a-half years, and is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2014.

Roy Beggs MLA commented:

“This is one of the final stages in a long process of improving this vital trans-European transport network (TEN-T) route to and from Larne.   Public representatives from East Antrim and the haulage industry have been pushing for the completion of the dual carriageway for several decades.  I am glad that the opportunity has now been grasped.   This long overdue extension of the dual carriageway will, in the long term give the Port of Larne an opportunity to compete with other commercial ports on a more level playing field.  I share the concerns about the relative decline of the port in recent years compared to Belfast, Warrenpoint and Dublin which have all seen major infrastructural improvement over the last 10 to 15 years.  There has been a loss of both passenger and freight traffic from Larne, and this cannot be unrelated to lack of movement on the upgrade of the remaining single carriageway parts of the A8.    When the contract is complete, there will be a complete route down the eastern seaboard of Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic, from Larne to Cork, which will either be of motorway or dual carriageway standard.  This complete route will facilitate commuters, business and tourists.  With the improved roads infrastructure, I have no doubt that the East Antrim area will become a more attractive to companies considering locating here and so better prospects will be created for all. 

The option to bypass Ballynure by the west surprised me when it emerged as the preferred route of the Department 3 years ago, as I had anticipated the route continuing on its present route through the village.  My Ulster Unionist Party colleague Danny Kinahan MLA, South Antrim did lead a campaign for a reassessment  of  the preferred route in 2010, and succeeded in getting the Department to conduct a high level review.  However that review came to the same conclusion that overall a western bypass was a better option in terms of accessibility, road safety and value for money. 

The confirmation by the Inspectors report and the Minister that the western by-pass of Ballynure is proceeding will of course be bitterly disappointing for the landowners who will have their property and farms disrupted.  It is important that they are adequately compensated.  I also recognise that many local residents and farmers will be inconvenienced in having to travel further to cross the dual carriageway.   However, there will be safer crossings and traffic will no longer be held back by slow moving agricultural vehicles and so there will be a reduced risk of accident to all concerned.  Having read the Inspector’s  report I am satisfied that reasonable steps have been taken to minimise, where possible, the impact on land and property.

I believe that now that the final decision has been taken and all statutory processes have been complete, it is in everyone’s interests that the scheme goes ahead without any further delay.  With the down turn in the economy there had been a considerable loss of construction jobs.  With the final go ahead for the A8 Dual Carriageway from the Regional Development Minister, Danny Kennedy MLA, a considerable number of jobs will also be created during the construction phase.