Speaking during a meeting with Tom Elliott MLA and Jim Nicholson MLA, the Minister also discussed developments on the preferred route announced in July, and said that detailed design work is progressing well.
Roads Service and consultants Mouchel have listened to concerns from the public first hand and are continuing to have a series of one to one meetings with the affected landowners which should be completed by the end of October.
The Minister said: "Currently we are gathering information from the landowners on land use and livestock and machinery movements. Most landowners have been helpful in giving ground investigation contractors access to their land to carry out tests. This information will by key in helping the designers reduce landtake, mitigate the impacts on land owners, reduce the footprint of the dual carriageway and help assess the suitability of alternative alignments.
"Maintaining access to all areas of their land is essential. Minor realignments of the route are already being considered in response to the information being provided. Public consultation has been and will continue to be, an important part of the scheme developments and all suggestions and comments will continue to be fully considered,'' said Mr Murphy.
Over 5,400 people attended public consultation events on the A5 scheme. There will be a second series of meetings in December and January, where proposals for accommodation works and mitigation measures will be presented to landowners. This will be followed by a third series of meetings, to be held in spring 2010, where maps confirming the area of ground to be vested will be provided.
The amount of compensation for land will be assessed by valuers from Land and Property Services independently. Landowners’ rights and interests are protected by legislation and the Lands Tribunal will adjudicate if agreement cannot be reached.
Notes to Editors:
1. The A5 web site www.a5wtc.com and the helpline on 0845 602 3954 have been widely used by the public.
2. The information gathered through future meetings with landowners will inform the development of the Preferred Route to the Emerging Specimen Design, which will be presented at Public Exhibitions in summer 2010. This will be followed by the publication of Draft Statutory Orders and an Environmental Statement in autumn 2010, with a Public Inquiry in 2011. There will also be a formal consultation process in advance of the Public Inquiry, during which all affected parties and others may make comments and lodge objections to the Draft Orders and Environmental Statement. These comments and objections will then be heard at the Public Inquiry in 2011. It is anticipated that work will commence in 2012 and be completed in 2015.
3. Media queries should be directed to the Department for Regional Development Press office on 028 9054 0372. Out of office hours please contact the duty press officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
