ENVIRONMENTAL PROTESTERS began gathering in a field in Co Tyrone yesterday in opposition to the building of an 86km stretch of dual carriageway through the county.
Activists at Climate Camp 2010 are protesting against the road which is part of the A5 western transport corridor route from Aughnacloy to Derry.
The Climate Camp protesters are occupying a field at Victoria Bridge, south of Strabane through which the proposed road will pass. They say they are there at the invitation of a local group, the Alternative A5 Alliance.
Spokeswoman for Climate Camp Molly Walsh said “we are direct action activists and we take action against the root causes of climate change.
“We’re here to share our skills with locals and to strategise with them against the building of this road.”
The Department of Regional Development in Northern Ireland has said the proposed dual carriageway will reduce journey times, improve road safety and support economic growth in the area.
Lynne Smyth, secretary of the Alternative A5 Alliance, said “the last thing Northern Ireland needs is another road. Transport in this country is responsible for around 30 per cent of CO2 emissions. Building this road will only increase emission levels.”
Ms Smyth, who says her brother-in-law’s farm will be compulsorily purchased under the scheme, said “it’s being claimed that over 5,000 people have attended consultation meetings with stakeholders since 2008 – we haven’t heard anything about these meetings.”
A spokeswoman for the Department of Regional Development said the department and their consultants, Mouchel, held several public consultation days in 2008 and 2009. She said the events have been attended by over 5,000 people.
The spokeswoman said: “we’re aware of the impact the scheme will have on local farmers and the community and we are committed to working with them to mitigate the effects.” She added that the consultation process remains ongoing: “there will be a formal consultation process in advance of the public inquiry, during which the public may lodge comments or objections.
“These will then be heard at the public inquiry in 2011,” she said.
Meanwhile a spokesman for the Department of Transport in Dublin has confirmed that the Government is contributing up to €400 million to co-fund the road as part of the Belfast Agreement.
