Land may be bought for Saintfield road scheme

Land may be bought for Saintfield road scheme

4 September 2013

DISCUSSIONS are to begin with landowners in a bid to complete the upgrade of the last remaining section of the main Crossgar to Saintfield road, local politicians have been told.

The news was confirmed by the Roads Service’s divisional manager, Kevin Monaghan, during a meeting with Down councillors last week.

Mr. Monaghan said preliminary design of the scheme to upgrade a section of the A7 between Doran’s Rock and the entrance to Rowallane Gardens has been completed.

He said the project has been classed as a “large minor works scheme,” explaining that strenuous efforts to secure the money to finance the upgrade over the past few years have been unsuccessful.

Mr. Monaghan said with preliminary design work now complete, the Roads Service can approach landowners to see if they will sign off the land required to deliver the scheme.

Councillors were told the plan is to widen the road on the south side of Rowallane Gardens and the north side of Doran’s Rock.

The senior roads official believes securing the land would strengthen the case in bidding to secure the money to deliver the scheme. Mr. Monaghan said he also shares the frustration of local politicians about the lack of progress.

He added: “Work has been done on this scheme over the years and we need consultants to do a data collection exercise, but money is not available to allow this work to be done despite significant lobbying.

“I would dearly love to have this scheme completed and have been vigorously pursuing the funding issue. I hope at this stage we can get a positive response from landowners.”

Councillor William Dick expressed concern at the lack of progress and described news that the design work has been completed as “nothing new.”

He added: “I understood the approach to landowners was to have been made several years ago. We want to see this scheme completed and want to know when the final design will be ready and when discussions with landowners have been completed so we can help secure the money for this  scheme.

“Stormont Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy said he is prepared to look at financing schemes of a “small nature” and I believe the the upgrade of the A7 falls into this category.”