By-pass plan moves into gear as consultation begins

By-pass plan moves into gear as consultation begins

25 March 2015

FORMAL consultation on Ballynahinch’s proposed £50m by-pass gets underway today.

The news comes after work on a number of key documents detailing plans for the two mile by-pass linking the town’s Belfast and Newcastle roads was recently completed.

Roads engineers have finished a lengthy exercise preparing a detailed environmental statement, a draft vesting order and confirming the final route of the by-pass, but a detailed economic appraisal is not yet ready. It is also believed a public inquiry will be held into the scheme later in the year.

Mr. Kennedy said the new by-pass will include overtaking lanes and a shared path for pedestrians and cyclists on the western side of the market town and is expected to make a “significant contribution” to the improvement of traffic conditions and congestion in Ballynahinch town centre.

He is encouraging everyone with an interest in the area to get involved and take part in the consultation process which will see a public exhibition of the draft orders and environmental statement in Ballynahinch’s Market House next month.

The documents can be viewed on Tuesday, April 14, between 12.30pm and 9pm and from 9am until 10pm the following day. The formal consultation process launched today runs until May 19 and the environmental statement can be viewed on the Department of Regional Development’s website.

Roads officials have confirmed the timescale for the start of construction work depends upon the successful completion of the necessary statutory procedures, a detailed economic appraisal and the availability of funding.

As part of the by-pass development, major new roundabouts are proposed close to the Millbridge soccer pitch at the Newcastle Road and at the Saintfield Road junction at the Belfast Road.

Ballynahinch councillor Anne McAleenan said it’s vital work starts on the eagerly-awaited by-pass as soon as possible.

“Many people hope the scheme will proceed and if a public inquiry is required I hope it will not lead to further delays in delivering a scheme which I believe will be good for Ballynahinch, good for businesses and residents and good for visitors to the town,” she said.

“Once the public consultation ends and if there is a public inquiry, the scheme can then move to the important full design stage, paving the way for the start of construction work.”

She added: “There is a willingness within the Roads Service and at ministerial level to deliver this much-needed scheme and I am delighted with the progress that has been made. It’s essential the money to finance the scheme is made available.”

Rowallane councillor Robert Burgess is also pleased with progress on the scheme and hopes no major hurdles will be placed in the way of its delivery.

“We now have the completion of the environmental statement and draft vesting orders which details proposals for the compulsory purchase of land along the route of the by-pass. I hope the money to fund the project can be earmarked and we could have contractors on site in less than two years’ time,” he said.

“Minister Kennedy is aware of the benefits the proposed by-pass is likely to bring for Ballynahinch and continues to support the expedient development of the scheme. I would encourage anyone with an interest in the by-pass to make the most of the formal consultation process which has been launched.”

The environmental statement can be viewed from this morning at www.drdni.gov.uk/index/roadimprovements/schemes/a24_ballynahinch_bypass.htm.