Legal challenge to upgrade of Derry-Belfast A6 road branded 'ridiculous'

A legal challenge to the eagerly-awaited upgrade of the main Derry to Belfast A6 road has been branded "ridiculous."

Last month, Infrastructure Minister, Chris Hazzard, last month announced his decision to proceed with the Randalstown to Castledawson section of the dualling scheme, an investment of £160 million.

The legal challenge has been launched by Northern Ireland Friends of the Earth.

Campaign group “Save Heaney Country” are also trying to stop the road upgrade.

They claim the dual carriageway would “destroy” the local landscape and have launched a petition which has gathered over 1,100 signatures. Sinn Féin Cllr Sean McGlinchey described the moves as “ridiculous.”

He said: “I am deeply annoyed at these groups campaigning to block this £160 million scheme. Do these people expect motorists to sit back and wait in traffic for hours?

“There have been so many people involved at getting this project moved forward, the Infrastructure Minister and has department have worked so hard in getting the money secured, it is absolutely ridiculous that campaign groups are now coming forward with their objections.

“This project has been a long time coming and it has followed the correct protocols, there were community consultations, why did these groups now bring their objections forward then, instead of waiting to the work on the ground has started?”