Discussions on road closures continuing

A CALL has been made to open the Market Yard to traffic after a gas company said it has no other option but to close a town centre road for a week this summer.

Last week the Roe Valley Chamber of Trade and Commerce called a meeting with energy supplier Firmus after concerns were raised about the impact the closure of Linenhall Street would have on businesses in the town. A second set of discussions is set to take place this week between the two after the last meeting fuelled fears that businesses in the town centre would suffer badly from the planned shut down. Limavady councillor Leslie Cubitt who attended the meeting, said the closure would "kill" businesses in the area and called on the Market Yard to be negotiated into being opened to traffic.

Councillor Cubitt said: "This closure will absolutely kill businesses because there will be no traffic whatsoever entering the town up until as far as Tescos. How are those traders that need their supplies brought to them by a forty foot lorry going to receive their stock?"

"I have made a proposal that an entry from Catherine Street be made available to allow large lorries to pass through and reach those traders closed off. I have also suggested that the Chamber negotiate with the owner of the Market Yard in allowing traffic travelling from the direction of Londonderry to pass through into the town centre."

Roe Valley Chamber of Trade and Commerce Julie Brolly said a number of alternatives were being looked at regarding the situation.

Miss Brolly said: "Now that we have more information about Firmus Energy's plans for Limavady we can now go out to our members and local residents to gather feedback about how we manage and minimise the impact of the road closure."

"A number of alternatives were proposed and discussed during the public meeting, which we think can be pursued to minimise the disruption to local residents and businesses."

"We fully understand that roads and utilities need to be maintained and repaired and we welcome the much needed investment into the Borough, however, it is imperative that disruption is kept to a minimum."

When speaking to the Roe Valley Chamber of Commerce last Tuesday at the public meeting in the Drummond Hotel, Firmus Energy's Construction Manager Ray Cummins said a number of issues prevented the company from keeping the road open to traffic.

He said: "Unfortunately, as Linenhall Street is much narrower and as both sides of the road are already fitted with other utilities infrastructure including telecoms we have no alterative but to close Linenhall Street whilst we carry out this essential work."

Ray added; "As Linenhall Street is so narrow for health and safety reasons we unfortunately cannot set up a system where you drive up on the footpath, and as the noise omissions from some of the equipment is so high night works would be in breach of noise pollution legislation."

Chamber President Julie Brolly said further discussions and alternatives would be explored in a second meeting, hoped to take place this week.

Julie added: "We are meeting again this week with Firmus Energy and with Limavady Borough Council to explore a number of alternative options, and we are hoping that by the end of the week we will have a deal on the table that is much more acceptable than a week long closure of Linenhall Street."

Julie added: "If any residents or traders have any ideas or suggestions that could reduce the impact that the road closure will have on Linenhall Street please contact me on 777 68180."