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| A5: £800,000 paid to buy farmland for roads project | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Department of Regional Development has paid almost £800,000 to buy farmland for the now halted A5 road project. | |
| Earlier this month, a judge quashed a decision to go ahead with a £330m upgrade of the road between Londonderry and Aughnacloy, County Tyrone. | Earlier this month, a judge quashed a decision to go ahead with a £330m upgrade of the road between Londonderry and Aughnacloy, County Tyrone. |
| It found the environmental impact assessment was unsatisfactory. | It found the environmental impact assessment was unsatisfactory. |
| The DRD still has to pay farmers compensation for fencing that has been removed and for loss of use of fields. | |
| In a statement to the BBC, the department said: "A total of £795,566 has been paid to landowners by the Department for Regional Development for the purchase of land in relation to the A5 scheme. | In a statement to the BBC, the department said: "A total of £795,566 has been paid to landowners by the Department for Regional Development for the purchase of land in relation to the A5 scheme. |
| "The department is considering options to resolve this matter to the satisfaction of everyone involved." | "The department is considering options to resolve this matter to the satisfaction of everyone involved." |
| Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy told the BBC: "Following the recent court ruling on the A5 scheme, a fuller assessment of the impact of the A5 proposals on the rivers Foyle and Finn Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) is being conducted. | Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy told the BBC: "Following the recent court ruling on the A5 scheme, a fuller assessment of the impact of the A5 proposals on the rivers Foyle and Finn Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) is being conducted. |
| "It would not be appropriate for me to pre-judge the outcome of any new assessment. When this process is completed I will consider the matter further." | "It would not be appropriate for me to pre-judge the outcome of any new assessment. When this process is completed I will consider the matter further." |
| 'Full consideration' | 'Full consideration' |
| He said he had held a number of meetings with members of the construction industry, the Ulster Farmers Union and Londonderry Chamber of Commerce. | He said he had held a number of meetings with members of the construction industry, the Ulster Farmers Union and Londonderry Chamber of Commerce. |
| His department has also written to landowners to talk through their options. | His department has also written to landowners to talk through their options. |
| Mr Kennedy said it was "important that other schemes that may be in a position to be progressed ahead of the A5 are given full consideration by the executive". | Mr Kennedy said it was "important that other schemes that may be in a position to be progressed ahead of the A5 are given full consideration by the executive". |
| Earlier this month, it was revealed that almost £60m had already been spent on the A5 road project. | Earlier this month, it was revealed that almost £60m had already been spent on the A5 road project. |
| The figure was revealed after a judge awarded legal costs to a group of farmers, landowners and supporters seeking to block work on the 50-mile stretch. | The figure was revealed after a judge awarded legal costs to a group of farmers, landowners and supporters seeking to block work on the 50-mile stretch. |
| In March, the Alternative A5 Alliance won their judicial review challenge to the planned new route due to a breach of a habitats directive. | In March, the Alternative A5 Alliance won their judicial review challenge to the planned new route due to a breach of a habitats directive. |
| The scheme, the largest of its kind ever in Northern Ireland, formed part of a proposed key cross-border business route linking Dublin and the north west. | The scheme, the largest of its kind ever in Northern Ireland, formed part of a proposed key cross-border business route linking Dublin and the north west. |