Minister underlines North West commitment

Work on the £3 million Skeoge Link road scheme in Londonderry will start this September, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Angela Smith, announced today.

During a visit to Derry City Council to meet group leaders of political parties and a small number of business leaders, she also revealed details of a number of Department for Regional Development’s roads and water schemes planned or underway in the North West as part of the Government’s policy of investing significantly in infrastructure across Northern Ireland.

The Minister said: “I know that the Skeoge Link has been long awaited in the city as it provides a key link from the Foyle Bridge to the Buncrana Road bypassing the Galliagh estate.

“Unfortunately it has been delayed by objections to the statutory planning and land acquisition processes, but I’m glad to say these are now resolved. Roads Service has now started the tendering procedure and is in final negotiations with landowners to get the scheme on site in September.

The Minister also said she was hopeful that work would start on the £13 million Foyle Bridge strengthening programme later this year. She then revealed plans for the beginning of significant investment in water and sewerage services in the city as well as the North West as a whole.

The Minister added: “We plan to start work on the £18 million Culmore Waste Water Treatment Works and the £10 million Watermain Replacement at Cityside this year, with a completion date of 2006. A further £10 million worth of improvements and upgradings are planned at Waste Water Treatment works, pumping stations, and sewer and mains networks.”

Ms Smith said that the schemes were part of a major programme of essential water and sewerage projects over the next three years to work towards full compliance with EU standards, a task which will take several years.

(MB)