A5 upgrade ruling welcomed despite concerns for farmers

MID Ulster Policy & Resources committee members have welcomed the recent Court of Appeal ruling clearing the way for a major upgrade of the A5 between Londonderry and Aughnacloy, while highlighting concerns for affected landowners facing the loss of agricultural land.

At the Court of Appeal in Belfast on October 6, Lady Chief Justice Dame Siobhan Keegan said a 2025 ruling preventing the upgrade was “problematic” and could not stand.

Speaking at the October 8 Policy & Resources committee meeting, Councillor Gael Gildernew (Sinn Féin, Clogher Valley DEA) said: “I’m delighted that the judge has given the green light for the project.

“My thoughts are with the families who have tragically lost loved ones on this road, as well as those who have been injured on the road. Hopefully there will be no more delays, and there should be no more delays.

“I’d just like to thank [DfI] Minister Liz Kimmins and [Finance Minister] John O’Dowd for engaging with our council as the A5/N2 cross-border group, and for all their hard work and determination to get this project to this stage. I look forward to seeing the work commencing in early 2027.”

Councillor Eugene McConnell (Sinn Féin, Clogher Valley DEA) echoed his colleague’s comments, describing the ruling as “a massive advancement for all the families that have suffered bereavements, especially families that I represent in my area.”

He added: “They see this as a fantastic step forward and we just hope that this will commence as soon as possible.”

Councillor Trevor Wilson (UUP, Cookstown DEA) also expressed sympathy for bereaved families but raised concerns about compensation for farmers losing land to the scheme.

“The judge has now ruled that the A5 goes ahead, but could I also appeal for compensation for the farmers who are going to lose their land?

“They’ve been told that it will be [based on] 2024 [land value]. Land prices have shot up since then and we hope that the Finance Minister will do a good deal to get them across the line,” he said.

Councillor Frances Burton (DUP, Clogher Valley DEA) highlighted the impact on farming families, some of whom face losing land or having their farms divided.

“There are a lot of farming families who have been in limbo for a long time now, and it is important that those people [are looked after],” she said.

She called for affected farmers to receive fair compensation, adding: “To be paying them at a 2024 price when the [price of] land has continuously gone up [is not appropriate].”

Councillor Burton also stressed road safety, saying: “I know that lives are the most important thing in all of this, and road safety is always the most important objective in any redevelopment of these roads. But it also still comes down to people not speeding and not drinking and driving.”

She called for support for affected farming families, noting that many were “partly traumatised by what they feel is the loss of their land.”