Mayor urges Minister to progress with A5 appeal
2 July 2025
The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Ruairí McHugh, has welcomed the news that Infrastructure Minister, Liz Kimmins, is considering an appeal against last week’s A5 ruling.
The £1.2 billion project was stalled after the Belfast High Court overturned the Executive Office decision to proceed with the upgrade on the grounds that it did not comply with climate action targets.
Mayor McHugh said it was appropriate that the Department for Infrastructure explore grounds for an appeal, and that it would give much comfort to families. “I warmly welcome the news that all options are being considered in finding some solution to this impasse. I know that local families were devastated last week when they faced yet another obstacle in the campaign to upgrade this treacherous road where too many lives have been lost.
“I stand firmly with them in their campaign, and I want to voice my support for the department as they work through this process and urge that definitive action is taken quickly to set the wheels in motion on this vital infrastructure project before we see any further tragedy.”