Concern has been raised over the decision to deny vehicles over 7.5-ton access to an ‘important’ cross border road at Clady, Northern Ireland.
Cathaoirleach of the Stranorlar Municipal area Patrick McGowan has called for a meeting with the Derry & Strabane District Council and the NI Department of Infrastructure over their proposal to stop all lorries over 7.5 tons going through Clady village.
Speaking on the matter yesterday, McGowan said: “This is a very busy route for a lot of traffic crossing the border and we need assurances that local businesses, especially in the Castlefinn area, will be catered for.
“What will happen in the event of road works in Lifford and or Strabane?
“What if the bridge in Lifford had to be closed for any reason, would this route through Clady automatically open or will it take a meeting with the Department of Infrastructure NI before the go-ahead is given to reverse the weight restriction and allow lorries through until the Lifford Strabane route is open again?” McGowan queried.
“I appreciate that there is ongoing concern about the number of large lorries going through Clady and the noise can be very disturbing especially when lorries are stopping and starting when trying to weave through parked cars parked on both sides of the road in Clady itself.
“I think at a time when the uncertainty of Brexit is putting a lot of businesses under pressure there should be more advanced consultations with authorities in Donegal, especially at a political level.
“And as the Cathaoirleach of the Stranorlar municipal area, I have requested our senior official to contact both officials and public representatives across the border to meet with my Municipal district members as soon as possible.
“Everything must be out on the table before an agreement can be reached,” he added.
“Most lorries and tractors with any kind of load would be over 7.5 ton including some vans and a lot of Donegal businesses are doing business locally.
“So, we need a level playing field when it comes to selecting which businesses would be allowed to enter the village.”