His decision comes after Roads Service published the Statutory Orders for the A2 scheme.
The Statutory Orders published on 14 and 21 March 2007, are in three parts:
- The Environmental Statement, which considers the environmental impact of the proposed scheme and sets out mitigation measures;
- The Draft Direction Order, which details proposed changes to the road; and
- The Notice of Intention to Make a Vesting Order, which details the land requirements for the proposed scheme.
Following publication of these Orders there was a period for formal comment or objection relating to the proposals.
The Public Inquiry will be held in October 2007. Arrangements are now being made and a formal notification with details of the Inquiry, arrangements will be published in due course, at least 8 weeks before it will be held.
Conor Murphy said: “As part of the scheme development Roads Service followed statutory procedures, which required publication of the Statutory Orders. The response to these indicated considerable interest and concerns from members of the public and other interested parties. In order that these may be fully taken into account I have decided that a Public Inquiry should be held, giving everyone an opportunity to have their views considered.”
Notes to Editors:
- The Regional Transportation Strategy, approved by the Assembly in 2002, confirms the need to address bottlenecks on the strategic highway network.
- The Belfast Metropolitan Transport Plan 2015, published in November 2004, identifies the Greenisland section of the A2 as a bottleneck on the Belfast Metropolitian Area strategic network, which causes significant congestion and long delays on this corridor at peak times.
- The A2 Shore Road Greenisland scheme is included in the Roads Service Major Works preparation Pool, at an estimated cost of £41.1 million.
Media queries to: Emma Flynn-Davies, Department for Regional Development, Press Office, Tel 028 90540007.
