Debate contribution: A5 Western Transport Corridor: Impact on Local Communities

Debate contribution by Ms Diana Armstrong on 13 May 2025.

MLA

Ms Diana Armstrong

Party at the time

Ulster Unionist Party

Date

13 May 2025

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Adjournment

Heading

A5 Western Transport Corridor: Impact on Local Communities

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4948301

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I thank our West Tyrone colleague for tabling the matter for debate and the Minister for attending today. I hope that the Member does not mind my commenting on the matter, but, as we all know, the A5 western transport corridor stretches across many communities, including those in south Tyrone in my consistency. From the outset, I wish to note that the loss of all lives on our roads is tragic and that one life lost is one too many. Like others, I recognise the pain and the loss of the many relatives. The A5 western transport corridor is by far the largest infrastructure project ever undertaken in Northern Ireland. Over the years, multiple Ministers for Infrastructure have claimed that their priority was to deliver the A5 in the hope that it would prevent further tragic road accidents, as too many lives had already been lost. Those are the certainties that we know of, yet, for the communities directly affected right now by the preparatory works for the A5, such as landowners and the local farming community, the only certainty is the fact that their land has been vested from them. They can see their new boundary fences and the lost land. They can see that their hedges have been removed and that their trees have been cut down. For some, they can see the entire removal of their farm business, yet they have seen no compensation. Can you just imagine the mental toll of that on farm families in the area? The impact of the non-existent road is being felt right now. Some have lost or may lose everything. The reality is that you cannot farm or rebuild without land. The harsh reality is that you cannot build, even if you want to, because of the Agriculture Department's disastrous policies on ammonia emissions. Landowners deserve certainty and should not be treated like a by-product of the process. Their lands are not just properties; they are the lifeblood of the rural economy and the heritage of the community. Many lands have been passed down through generations of careful guardianship. Regardless of the outcome of the judicial review, acknowledgement must be given to those whose lands have been vested to make the process possible. It is crucial that we address concerns with empathy for those who have lost loved ones and balance that with the needs and concerns of our local farming community. Lessons should have been learnt from the A6 upgrade, but it is almost a certainty that mistakes will be made once again. I support the Member for West Tyrone's Adjournment topic, which highlights the impact that the scheme is having on the farming community financially, emotionally and in the protection of their livelihood.

455 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 12:37 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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