'A8 plan is a must' says McCamphill

SDLP East Antrim representative Justin McCamphill said he is deeply concerned by reports that the promised £113 million dualling of the A8 to Larne now depends on the outcome of a UK-wide spending review later this year.
By The Newsroom
Published 16th Aug 2010, 17:29 BST
Updated 17th Aug 2010, 17:57 BST

He said: “First of all, it is very late in the development process for the Treasury to be throwing up this kind of roadblock, given that the Regional Development Minister has appointed the lead contractor and negotiations for land purchase are in hand. But secondly, and more importantly, this is no run-of-the-mill spending project to be hacked back in hard times. It is the subject of an international agreement.

“The Irish Government is putting a total of 400 million into this project and the A5 Derry-Aughnacloy upgrade. The commitment from Dublin has come through their own budget review process unscathed and was recently confirmed in no uncertain terms by Taoiseach Brian Cowen. As a result, the northern taxpayers are getting a lot of extra bang for their buck and it would be doubly foolish to step back at this point.

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“If these reports are true, the Finance Minister and Regional Development Minister need to step in and talk to the Treasury without delay. A quick calculation on the back of an envelope should convince even the most cut-prone Tory just what a good deal the A8 upgrade is.”

Related topics:Larne