Loss of land to A5 may hike food costs

That is the contention of one of the Londonderry landowners affected by the proposed new road and just one of a series of objections considered by the Inspector’s Report on the A5 Western Transport Corridor Public Inquiry, which will be finally published this month.

During the public inquiry last year Barbara Hatrick, who is set to lose land to the new road, said she was totally opposed to the new carriageway between junctions one and two at Newbuildings.

During a presentation to the inquiry Ms Hatrick said it was “total madness” to build a major road that does not have supporting infrastructure to support it especially at the Londonderry end.

She also objected to the potential destruction of the tourist potential of the beatiful Foyle valley, which she claimed could rival the Peak viewing point in Hong Kong.

Uniquely, however, she also suggested the loss of thousands of acres of farmland along the road’s route could jeopardise food security in Londonderry.

“I would also refer to the current debates taking place both on a national level and in Europe regarding food security. With food security being the ability to produce food at a price the poorest in society can afford to buy, this is why the loss of these 731 hectares of best land along this new A5 proposed route could prove catastrophic to the Northern Ireland economy,” she told the inquiry.

“The agricultural sector provides much employment both directly and indirectly. The more you look at this proposal the more you realise that the new A5 road is not right and I believe flawed. Please stop this road now,” she added.

Mr Frances O’Reilly representing Roads Service said the issue of food security had not been raised before and suggested it might be considered a more general matter than a local matter.

But Ms Hatrick replied: “It is a very local matter when people can’t afford to buy the food they eat.”

The Inspector’s views on the various onjections to the A5 will be made public for the first time this month, Roads Minister Danny Kennedy has revealed.

Mr Kennedy said: “My Department’s Roads Service received the Inspector’s Report on the A5 Western Transport Corridor Public Inquiry on 24 February 2012 and officials are currently reviewing the issues arising out of this Report.

“It is anticipated that the Departmental Statement, which is the Department’s response to the Inspector’s Report, will be published in July.

“The Inspector’s Report will also be made available to the public at that time.”

Last year the Sentinel published the names of landholders between Londonderry and Strabane affected by the vesting schedule of the A5 Western Transport Corridor (WTC).

Those affected are: DARD, Loughs Agency, NIE, NI Water, WELB, Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company, Vircap Properties Limited; James Kerr 249 Manningford Road, Birmingham; James Ronald Killen, New Buildings; John James Kerr (Junior), Birmingham; Michael Curran, Belfast; Paul Steele, Belfast; David J Hatrick, Londonderry; John S Hatrick, Londonderry; John McNeely and Janet McNeely, New Buildings; Personal Representative of Robert Chambers Deceased Peter Long Dickson & McNulty Solicitors; John Ecklin O’Kane, New Buildings; James Lawrence Nutt and Ann Nutt, New Buildings; William Fulton, Bready; Elsie Ruby Chambers c/o Brenda Donnelly Official Solicitors Office Royal Courts of Justice; Personal Representative of Mary Isobel Chambers Deceased Peter Long Dickson & McNulty Solicitors; Richard Brennan, New Buildings; William Dunn, Strabane; William Magee 59 Duncastle Road; William Fulton (Junior) and Robert Fulton, Strabane; William Cecil Henderson, New Buildings; David Graeme Killen, New Buildings; Geoffrey Ronald Killen, New Buildings; Kirstan Elizabeth Jane Killen, New Buildings; William Richard John Killen, New Buildings; James Stewart Killen, Newbuildings; James Ronald Killen, New Buildings; Graham Richard McNeely, Magheramason; Douglas Edward Dixon. Magheramason; William Noel McCrea, Magheramason; Graham Richard McCrea, Magheramason; Janice McCrea, Magheramason; Robert Samuel Gamble Woodhouse, Magheramason; Brian Guthrie, Magheramason; David Cairns and Louise Margaret Cairns, Magheramason; Desmond Alexander McBride and Mary Jayne McBride, Magheramason; Jonathan Owen Burgess, Magheramason; Julie Ann Kerr, Magheramason; Ross Edward Kerr, Magheramason; Sarah Guthrie, Magheramason; David Gamble, Bready; Leslie Dunn. Bready; Marcus Leslie Alexander Christie, Bready; Victor Love Christie, Drumahoe; William Lawrence McSparron and Florence Sarah Marie McSparron, Bready; Alistair Osbourne Buchanan, Bready; Personal Representative of Kathleen Adams Smith Christie Deceased Marcus Leslie Alexander Christie; Marcus Leslie Alexander Christie, Bready; John Benjamin Christie, Bready Strabane; Kathleen Isabel Christie, Bready; Robert James Rankin, Bready Strabane; Norman Crumley , Bready; William Charles Crumley, Bready; Victor John Love, Hazelbrook, New South Wales; Alan Robert McCrea, Bready; Derek McCrea, Bready; John A McCrea, Bready; Sarah McCrea, Bready; David McLaughlin Lowry. Bready; James Reginald Lowry, Bready; Alastair Osborne Buchanan and Eileen Hazel Jean Buchanan, Bready; Geoffrey Louis Rankin, Bready; Mavis Ewing Kelly, Bready; William Kelly, Bready; Iris Elizabeth Ballantine, Ballymagorry; Stanley Samuel Ballantine, Ballymagorry; Karl Rankin, Bready; Peter McShane, Bready; James Ivan Lindsay, Bready; Taylor Lindsay, Bready; Isabel Ida Lindsay, Bready; David James Throne, Bready; Victor Ian McMullan and Gillian Elizabeth McMullan, Bready; Personal Representative of William Semple Throne Deceased David James Throne, Bready; Christopher Basil Throne, Bready; Brenda Jean Throne, Bready; David Ivan Lindsay, Bready; Paul Foley, Ballymagorry; James Vincent Crumlish, Dublin; Mary Jude Crumlish, County Dublin; James Reginald Lowry, Bready;

John Briggs, Ballymagorry; John Gerard McShane, Ballymagorry; Mairgead Marie McShane, Ballymagorry; Andrenna Clarke, Ballymagorry; Derek William Clarke, Ballymagorry; Thomas Gerald Magee and Mary Magee, Ardstraw; The Trustees of Burndennett, Cricket Club; Edward Montgomery The Honourable The Irish Society; James McKean, Ballymagorry; Robert McKean, Ballymagorry; Derick Donnell, Ballymagorry; Fredrick Hall Donnell, Ballymagorry; Sylvia Donnell, Ballymagorry; Elaine Parker, Ballymagorry; Glen Parker, Ballymagorry; Noel Edwards, Strabane; Joseph Edwards, Ballymagorry; Neil Gerard Edwards, Ballymagorry; William Thomas Boyd, Ballymagorry; Sandra Heywood, Ballymagorry; Wesley Heywood, Ballymagorry; Personal Representative of Susan Edwards Deceased Neil Gerard Edwards, Ballymagorry; Sydney Gamble, Strabane; Richard Ian Gamble, Bready; Frances Harper, Strabane; Robin Fredrick Cummings, Strabane; Avril Cavanagh, Strabane; Debra Juliet Murray, Eglinton; John Joseph Murray, Eglinton; Paul Cavanagh, Strabane; Mitchell Gourley Cummings, Strabane; Kieran Murphy, Strabane; Norma Murphy, Strabane; Patrick Hegarty, Strabane; Ellen Margaret Hegarty, Strabane; Samantha Boyd, Strabane; Stephen Boyd, Strabane; Heather Cummings, Strabane; Elizabeth Witherow, Strabane; Robin Cummings, Strabane.