Local councillors back Leitrim politician’s proposal to reform N16/ A4 Cross County Lobby Group
LOCAL Councillors have backed plans from a Leitrim representative to bring back the N16/ A4 Cross-County Lobby Group.
Cllr Marie Casserly (Independent) and Cllr Tom MacSharry (Fianna Faíl) both said the move by Cllr Seán McDermott (Fine Gael) of Leitrim County Council “makes good sense” in improving the road links between Sligo and Enniskillen in Co. Fermanagh.
The group was first set up in 2008 to look at developing the infrastructure that connected the counties of Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan and Fermanagh.
It lasted for five years but a motion to revive it has been placed before Leitrim County Council by Cllr McDermott.
While the N16 has seen – and is currently undergoing – significant improvement to the road surface and lighting, the difference when driving from that road onto the A4 over the border between Belcoo and Enniskillen is stark with the road surface being bumpy, worn out and very poor lighting.
Cllr Casserly said: “Any improvement to the alignment of the A4 would offer significant benefits to commuters and other road users in Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan and Fermanagh and these improvements are long overdue.
“I wholeheartedly support the re-establishment of this cross-border, crosscounty lobby group.
“Our government has previously supported other strategic cross-border-related infrastructure projects, and this one makes good sense for communities on both sides of the border.”
Cllr MacSharry also gave his backing adding: “We are trying to ultimately create a green way from Sligo to Northern Ireland and any improvements in road infrastructure is always most welcome for economic and safety reasons.”
However, Cllr Casserly cautioned that while the proposal is good news, it could hit a brick wall should the impasse that has paralysed the Assembly in the North continue.
She said: “Until there is a functioning administration in Northern Ireland, vital infrastructural projects like this will continue to be delayed, and that is a great shame.”
Of his reasons for wanting the N16/A4 lobby group to be re-established, Cllr McDermott, who is the representative for Manorhamilton, added: “At the moment Leitrim is continuing to realign sections of the N16 and construction is underway on the Sligo section of the N16. Investment is needed on the A4 from Ballygawley to Belcoo.
“So I am asking Leitrim County Council (LCC) for the chance to liaise with Sligo, Fermanagh/Omagh and Cavan Councils on this issue. We want to get this lobby group working again.
“When it was in operation, councillors, community leaders and business people from the four counties would meet and it worked really well. There’s an appetite and enthusiasm for it to be reformed.
“We need it now as there is a lot of tourism between Enniskillen and Sligo. We have been making road improvements for over 10 years on the N16, while nothing has happened with the A4 to Belcoo.
“Sligo is realigning a part of the N16, which will be a game-changer when it’s finished. We in Leitrim have been realigning the N16 for the last 10 to 12 years.
“The issue we have is the road between Belcoo and Enniskillen. If we can help improve the road here it will benefit everyone.”