Tuesday, 04 December 2008 – M.A. Ferrario – draft2 (min corrections)
Brief Report from the Meeting with Gareth Coughlin – Scott/Wilson Environmental Consultancy
The list of questions that guided my meeting with Gareth Coughlin can be found at the end of the document. This brief is structured around the questions asked during the meeting.
1. Built and Rural heritage:
a. b. Awareness of existence of significant and ancient woodland: Woodland Trust has been consulted. Ervery Woods have now EU status. Similarly, there is awareness of sites of significant heritage value (e.g. Motte and Bailey in Fincar Glenn). S&W is working on Reports 1 and 2 that will provide further (and final) information on the matter: 1. Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment; 2. Environmental Assessment - Status: Work in progress. Both assessments are due before end of January 2009
c. River Agency: the River Agency has been consulted. The Report 3: Flood Risk Assessment will provide further (and final) information on the matter - Status: work in progress. Due before end of January 2009
d. DARD: has been consulted. General feedback: there is no major concern over affecting existing farmland, due to the availability of cheap(er) non-local products. Affected farmlands will be compensated (off-set). The Report 4: Agricultural Land Assessment will provide further (and final) information on the matter. Status: work in progress. Due before end of January 2009
e. North West Organics has been contacted (David Howthorn). They have their N.I. base near Ness Woods and some of the land used for organic farming may be affected. Issue: Compensation/off-set of organic farmland proves more difficult than standard farmland as it takes a number of years (e.g. 5y, please check) for standard land to get certified due the presence of fertilisers, pesticides and etc.
2. Rational:
a. Road Services is putting together a report providing data on traffic usage and projection. The report (Traffic Usage Report) is likely to be issued in the spring time just before the preferred route is selected (Easter time). It is envisaged that the budget for the Claudy to Caw portion of the road (Faughan Valley) will amount to £200M of the £350 tot already allocated.
b. GC’s personal view - please note that he made it clear that this is not his field of expertise and that Road Services can provide more specific answers – is that the dualling system had been proposed on the basis that at Drumahoe there is a ‘traffic split’ between local traffic (heading to Altnagelvin, Lisnagelvin Shopping Centre, Crescent link and City Centre) and strategic traffic (heading to Donegal, Airport, Limavady). Such split could be of a 50% nature and include both freight and individual commuters. Needless to say I am not convinced about it (see question n4 about the ‘magnets’). I think there maybe a 70% to 30% split of a traffic at most and that, to date, such traffic cannot be described as ‘heavy’. GC stresses that is not just about ‘reducing traffic time’ but it is also matter of improved safety and reliability.
· This argument has been used when Altnagelvin was mentioned as a magnet for incoming traffic: his reply was that the new road will provide a safer and more reliable for the ambulance service. Follow up question yet to be asked: Have the Ambulance Services been consulted? Have Altnagelvin staff being consulted?
· A similar reply was given when asked re: improvement of existing road and public transport (e.g. provision of dedicated bus corridors at peak hours; responsive public transport initiatives). The answer was that a new road would insure increased reliability and safety of public transport. Please see a note at the end of the report of examples of public transport system improvement within UK
c. Derry Port => ask for annual report on usage
d. Derry Airport => ask for annual report on usage
3. Derry City Council feedback: Scott Wilson has contact the Town Clerk and the Directors of all the Departments in the Council. The Biodiversity Officer has been also contacted. No reply has been documented back from the Council so far. Derry CC. reps would meet regularly with Road Services as part of councils meetings.
Summary and Next
1. Scotts/Wilson environmental consultancy are preparing 4 Assessment reports on
a. Heritage Impact
b. Environmental Impact
c. Agricultural land Impact
d. Flood planes Impact
These will be issued before end of January 2009. If you have any query/anecdotal knowledge you wish to ask, please do so before Xmas
2. Road Services is producing a Traffic data and Traffic Flow Projection Report (I don’t know the exact name of it but somethingin the line). All questions relative to traffic flow data and etc should be directed to them (Ronnie Faloon – is the project manager for this portion of the road || cc ). We should act before end of January.
3. I am trying to arrange a meeting with Ronnie before Xmas. I will ask similar question as per the one asked to Gareth Coughlin. Please pass me on any queries you have in mind if you wish.
My personal view and long term strategy: I acknowledge the Political will and drive for making a strong statement about the City and its presence on the NI/RoI/UK map.
However I feel that this road is not the way. A much stronger statement could be made with actions that tackle transport and urban planning from a broader and longer-term vision. Points that support this view (more should be added):
· The Faughan Valley is an area of great beauty, natural and heritage interest. The economic value of existing, and future local initiatives should be considered (e.g. heritage tourism//outdoor activities such angling, canoeing; organic farming, etc ).
· Economic value of biodiversity must be taken into account. See for example http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/biodiversity/economics/
· Impact on health ad life stile should be assessed (e.g. due to further car dependency, fumes from traffic, schools nearby, ect).
· Cost and sustainability of maintaining private cars should be highlighted. For example, suitable and sustainable alternatives should be investigated. Recent announcements for boosting public transport in B.fast (budget in the region of £300M) should be looked up as an example. Similarly, best practices in responsive public transport within the UK and outside should be monitored see for a start http://www.sthelens.gov.uk/atozentry.do?id=901&keyword=Job%20Link http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/05/18112606/0 . A budget of £200M is a huge one. It is tax payer money. It is up to us to decide whether we put it under a mattress of tarmac or make it grow.
As for us and other interested individuals should feel free to network and circulate information. Please note, evidence shows that it is more effective to bringing forward questions and queries as individuals than as a group (e.g. if we are taking the route of a public inquiry). The case of the unsuccessful lobbying of a group in Dungiven that was opposing to zoning of the land around the castle: a vote brought forward as a group = one vote only!
Dungiven-Derry Dualling System (DS) Initial Queries
- Built and Rural heritage:
a. There is a number of significant woodland (documented before 1830) and ancient woodland (pre 1619) in the proximity of the proposed routes. Have they been documented? Have impact studies been carried out? Where? Is a larger map to see details of such areas?
b. Similarly question for historic monuments (e.g. scheduled monuments such raths, forth, cairns..)
c. River Agency: the Faughan is a designated water course controlled by the River Agency => has the plan to build the DS in the proximity of flood planes discussed and agreed with the River Agency?
d. DARD: what is the DARD view on building a DS on farmland area? A local Dairy farm has been recently sold, was the sale connected to the proposed road works? Who bought it?
e. Have North West organics been in contact/consulted?
f. ASSI//status progress
2. Rational: what are the available data, documents, reports that support the proposed DS? E.g. re: current and future usage projections – how do they score against national/international criteria?
a. How more quickly/safely is it expected to get to Derry from Belfast?
b. Anecdotal knowledge shows that road traffic problems between the tract Dungiven to Derry are not of significant nature. They seem to be limited to peak-hours traffic (8-9am and 5-6pm) and mainly involve commuters in private cars. Main bottleneck between Bfast and Derry: (1) Tuam stretch (at the Elk, for instance). (2) Dungiven has also become an issue at +-1hr peak hours. This is in part caused or at least aggravated by usage of main road for car parking – could this be addressed? No need of road widening if lanes that are currently used for parking cars are freed up.
c. What is the added value of the proposed DS v.s. recent road improvements (e.g. Crescent link/Drumahoe to Altnagelvin road). What was the overall cost of such road improvements?
a. Is there any point in having a road improved if agreements were met to by-pass it?
3. What type of traffic is expected on the DS? Freight? Private Cars?
a. Private cars – do we have current data and projections?
b. Freight/cargos/trucks – from where to where?
c. Derry City Council, Airport: what is the current and projected usage of the Airport (cargos? What type? What Tonnage) => see last annual report
d. Port: same as per above => see last annual report
4. Traffic Magnets/Main employer in the area.
· Altnagelvin
· Lisnagelvin shopping centre
· Crescent link shopping centre
· Offices, shops and etc in city centre
What is the rational of building a DS that by-pass the main traffic magnets?
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