Infrastructure Minister says she will not give up on A5 renovations
Kimmins also paid tribute to the 'Enough is Enough' campaign group who represent the families of those who have died on the road, saying that the court's decision will be "heartbreaking".
There has been 57 deaths recorded on the A5 since 2006.
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Lyons ‘received legal advice' that Kimmins' Grand Central Irish signs decision should have gone to Executive
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons wrote to Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins advising her he received legal advice that a decision to place Irish language signage at Grand Central Station should have been brought to the wider Executive for discussion. The letter, seen by the Belfast Telegraph, is dated May 28 and also asks for confirmation Ms Kimmins would bring the matter to the next meeting of the Executive 'where it can be considered by all ministers'. Just five days after this letter was sent, Ms Kimmins said she stood firm behind her decision.
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Appeal lodged over High Court ruling that A5 scheme cannot proceed
A notice of appeal has been served against a court ruling that the construction of the new A5 road should not go ahead in its current form, Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has said. The minister has insisted she is determined to see the ambitious roads project completed, despite the setback in the High Court in June. Advertisement Then Mr Justice McAlinden quashed the Stormont Executive's move to approve the £1.2 billion roads scheme following a legal challenge from a group including residents, farmers and landowners. Road signs for the A5 on the outskirts of Aughnacloy, Northern Ireland. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA. The judge said the proposals breached sections of Northern Ireland's Climate Change Act as they did not demonstrate how they would comply with the commitment to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. There have been more than 50 deaths on the A5, which links Derry with Aughnacloy in Co Tyrone, since 2006. A scheme to turn the road into a dual carriageway was first approved by the Executive in 2007, but it has been held up by legal challenges and uncertainty over funding ever since. Advertisement Speaking as the appeal was lodged on Wednesday, Ms Kimmins said: 'I am determined to see this project go ahead and therefore it is important that we appeal the decision made in the High Court on June 23. 'Too many lives have been lost on the A5, and far too many have been injured. 'We owe it to those people and their families to use every opportunity available to us to improve road safety in this area.' The minister added: 'The A5 Western Transport Corridor is a vital infrastructure project; my team and I have been working around the clock and will continue to do so. Advertisement 'We are determined to build the A5.' The deadline to lodge an appeal against the court ruling was Friday. When he delivered his judgment in June, Mr Justice McAlinden said he was aware it would bring 'significant, fresh anguish to the doors of those who have been injured and maimed and those who have lost loved ones as a result of road traffic accidents on the existing A5 road'. He said: 'One of the primary justifications for the construction of this new road is that it will be much safer than the existing road and that, over time, many lives will be saved and many serious injuries prevented and many families will be spared the utter heartbreak of the sudden and shocking loss of a loved one. Advertisement 'It is likely that delays in the progression of this scheme will coincide with the occurrence of further loss of life and serious injury on the existing road.' The judge added: 'However, the decision to proceed with the scheme must be taken in accordance with the law and the principle of the rule of law cannot be subverted, even if the motivation for doing so is to achieve what is deemed to constitute a clear societal benefit.' The judge said the 'shortcomings and shortcuts' in the proposals for the roads scheme could be remedied.
ITV News
04-08-2025
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Stormont minister advised Belfast Grand Central Irish signs decision should have gone to Executive
UTV has seen correspondence between the Communities minister Gordon Lyons and the Infrastructure minister Liz Kimmins which shows government solicitors believe introducing Irish language signage at Grand Central Station in Belfast is a cross-cutting and controversial decision, which should have been referred to the Executive. Back in March new-in-post Infrastructure minister Liz Kimmins announced she was to introduce Irish Language signage at Grand Central Station at a cost of £150,000. DUP ministers reacted furiously to the announcement, insisting the matter was controversial and cross-cutting - ie. its impact cuts across two or more government departments. In those circumstances, Stormont ministers are required to bring matter to the Executive for agreement from other ministers. When the matter was discussed at the Executive days later, the deputy First Minister Emma Little Pengelly branded the move "utterly shambolic". At the time she told the post-meeting press conference: "I reaffirmed our clear view that this issue is controversial. Therefore it should have been brought to the Executive Committee for agreement. We will be seeking additional information and considering the way forward." She added: 'All controversial, significant or cross-cutting matters do have that legal responsibility in terms of ministers bringing that to the Executive." But it didn't end there. Loyalist activist Jamie Bryson announced he was launching a legal challenge to the decision. UTV later revealed the Communities minister Gordon Lyons had also decided to legally challenge the move and so had intervened in the Bryson case. Now UTV has seen correspondence which reveals Liz Kimmins and Gordon Lyons were at odds from the moment the announcement was made. In no less than seven letters, exchanged between March and and June, the two ministers disagreed over whether the decision was cross cutting and controversial. Finally on 28th May the Communities minister wrote to his Infrastructure counterpart saying he had received legal advice from the Departmental Solicitor's Office. He writes: "That advice confirms that your decision meets the test for 'controversial' and 'cross cutting' and should have been referred to the Executive for discussion and agreement prior to being made." He again urges Mrs Kimmins to bring the matter to the Executive for discussion. On June 20th Mrs Kimmins replied insisting, again, that as Infrastructure minister "any decision in relation to the provision of public transport clearly falls within my remit." In reference to the legal action she went on to say it would be "preferable if we discussed the matter to reach a better mutual understanding of our positions before escalating this matter unnecessarily". When UTV asked Mrs Kimmins about the correspondence the minister stuck to her position. She said: "I wasn't advised to go to the Executive but I am confident, and still am confident, that it didn't need to happen. However as there are legal proceedings and the minister for Communities has joined the legal proceedings I think that's all I can really say at this stage as it is now in the hands of the court." If the court finds in favour of the Infrastructure minister the work to introduce Irish language signage will go ahead unimpeded. However, if the matter is resolved in favour of Mr Bryson and the Communities minister, the Infrastructure minister will come under considerable pressure to bring to matter to the Executive for agreement. The High Court hearing is due to take place on September 25th. Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know.
