Ruling to be appealed, Liz Kimmins says

Stormont’s infrastructure minister is to appeal a judgement that ruled construction of the new A5 dual carriageway should not go ahead in its current form.

The 58-mile (94km) £1.7bn project was given the green light by Stormont ministers in October last year.

In June, a court found the Department for Infrastructure’s plans for the road did not comply with climate change targets.

The road is the Northern Ireland part of the major arterial route that connects the north-west of the island – Donegal and Londonderry – to Dublin, via towns including Strabane, Omagh and Aughnacloy.

On Monday, Kimmins said she had taken the decision to instruct legal counsel to seek the appeal ahead of the deadline for doing so this Friday.

She said staff had been “working night and day” to ensure the appeal was robust.

Kimmins had said on 1 July that she was looking at “pursuing” an appeal into the ruling.

More than 50 people have died on the A5 since 2006 and campaigners have called for the road to be upgraded.

The judicial review proceedings that culminated in Judge McAlinden’s decision on 23 June, involved a group of residents, landowners and farmers who mounted a fresh challenge against the decision to begin construction work.

The umbrella group, known as the Alternative A5 Alliance, contended it would breach legislative targets to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

The High Court judgement blocking the upgrade of the A5 road – because the plans did not comply with government climate change targets – shows the reach and impact of Stormont’s climate change legislation – but the judgement is clear that shortcomings in the project can be remedied.

A solicitor for the Alternative A5 Alliance campaign group, which brought the successful case, said his clients’ efforts had been “vindicated” and it was an important day for the environment.

Safety campaigners from the Enough is Enough group said they were disappointed with the decision but added the judgement provided a “roadmap” for how the upgrade could proceed.

First Minister Michelle O’Neill said there was meeting with members of Enough is Enough 1 July.

The road is the Northern Ireland part of the major arterial route that connects the north-west of the island – Donegal and Londonderry – to Dublin, via towns including Strabane, Omagh and Aughnacloy.

The dual carriageway scheme was first announced back in 2007, but has been beset by a number of delays.