N16/A4 cross border lobby group should be reformed - McDermott

A former Cross Border Lobby Group could be back in action after five years, it was revealed at the latest Manorhamilton municipal district. 

Cllr Sean McDermott had asked the council to consider the reform of the N16/A4 Cross Border Lobby Group (consisting of members from Leitrim, Fermanagh, Cavan and Sligo) which was originally formed in 2008 with Leitrim being the lead partner. 
This group was operating for approximately five years and at the moment, Leitrim is continuing to realign sections of the N16 roadway and construction is underway on the Sligo section of the N16 roadway. 
"Investment is needed on the A4 from Ballygawley to Belcoo. I ask Leitrim County Council to make contact with Fermanagh/Omagh, Cavan and Sligo Councils on this issue," he said.

Cllr McDermott, a former member of that committee, said that Leitrim County Council was the lead partner and there were council officials as well as councillors and community and business members on it.

He was advised that Leitrim County Council had recently received correspondence from Fermanagh/Omagh District Council requesting that the N16/A4 Cross Border lobby group be reactivated and requesting Leitrim County Council's support for the initiative and Leitrim County Council indicated that it was willing to once again become a working member of the group.

Speaking to the Leitrim Observer, Cllr McDermott said: "I'm hoping all the councils will want to see that group reformed. It's coming at a good time because Leitrim has been continuing the realignment of the N16 for the last ten or fifteen years and Sligo has started theirs now. 
"The big problem is the A4 where you cross the border at Belcoo and head for Enniskillen, it's a bad road and needs upgrading. There is no point having the southern end upgraded and then going across the border and you're into a bottleneck."

Cllr McDermott continued that with the Greenway running from Sligo to Enniskillen "and nearly running alongside that is the A4/N16 so there's an opportunity there; they both would compliment each other - the Greenway and also the road from Sligo to Enniskillen. 
"There will be business opportunities, tourism opportunities, etc. when the whole road gets realigned. It's a very important cross border corridor and the most direct route from Galway to Belfast. You have three airports - the two Belfast airports and Knock airport on that corridor from Belfast to Galway. If the road gets realigned, that will increase the amount of traffic using it so there will be opportunities there," he said.

Cllr Felim Gurn had a similar motion in asking about the reforming of  N16 /A4 Cross Border Lobby Group saying that investment is needed for the A4 from Ballygawley to Belcoo.