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A5: £800,000 paid to buy farmland for roads project 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. The Department for Regional Development has paid almost £800,000 for farmland for the stalled A5 project - land that has now been returned to the farmers.
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 court quashed the decision to go ahead with the road scheme and as a result, the land reverted to farmers' ownership.
It found the environmental impact assessment was unsatisfactory. The DRD said it was working to resolve the issue of money already paid out.
The DRD still has to pay farmers compensation for fencing that has been removed and for loss of use of fields. In the interim, it is to compensate landowners for removal of fencing and for the loss of use of their 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 letter send to the farmers affected this week, the DRD said: "The effect of this judgement is that, as of 15 April, the ownership of lands has been returned to you".
"The department is considering options to resolve this matter to the satisfaction of everyone involved." The letter also confirmed that all construction work on the road scheme had ceased due to the court's decision.
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 outlined a number of compensation options for landowners on whose property work had already been begun.
As regards the original DRD land payments, the DUP said some farmers had already spent the money on their businesses. The Ulster Farmers Union said the situation was causing uncertainty for their members.
The proposed road project stretches from Londonderry to Aughnacloy, County Tyrone but it faced a legal challenge from the Alternative A5 Alliance (AA5A) - a group of farmers, landowners and supporters who sought to block work on the 85km stretch.
The AA5A won their judicial review into to the planned new route due to a breach of a habitats directive and work on the scheme was halted.
'Already reinvested'
In a statement to the BBC, a DRD spokesperson said £795,566 has been paid out to farmers whose land was taken as part of the proposed scheme.
In relation to the money already paid out, the spokesperson said: "The department is considering options to resolve this matter to the satisfaction of everyone involved."
Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy met with representatives of the Ulster Farmers' Union this week to discuss the implications of the court decision.
The DUP's Jimmy Spratt, chair of the DRD committee, said: "In many cases the farmers have already reinvested the money in their businesses, so all of that need to be considered.
"My party will all also seek that farmers are dealt with fairly and sympathetically."
Mr Spratt said the A5 scheme remained on the table but had been stalled and delayed.
"The minister and the department need to look at other schemes that can many go ahead in the shorter term," the DUP MLA added.
In a statement, Mr 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 already 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 the AA5A.
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.