Concerns over pace of development at Lifford Lands, Letterkenny Road 

While the planning application for enabling infrastructure at Lifford lands, Letterkenny Road has been approved by An Bord Pleanála, at the monthly meeting of the Lifford-Stranorlar Municipal District, the rapidity of access and ancillary works required to the development site was raised.  

Procurement for construction of enabling infrastructure is progressing, members were told and the Economic Development Unit is now engaging with prospective companies and other parties in relation to the development of this site. 

But concerns about the rapidity at the same development was raised by Cllr Gary Doherty Sinn Féin who told the meeting:

“I know that the planning application for that site has passed through An Bord Pleanala and there are discussions with businesses about how we can get businesses to locate into that area but that is obviously dependent on the works to install the infrastructure links into those lands that basically is an access road into it.

ABOVE: Cllr Gary Doherty

“Then we have Uisce Eireann connecting up the water supply and electricity and all the other ancillary works that need to be done.

“But I am just concerned that you said that the work to begin that will start in Q4 of this year and I am wondering why there would be such a delay when the planning application has already been passed by An Bord Pleanala, why would we have to wait nine months before the works start on the access roads and that.     

“I just don’t understand why we would need to wait, particularly when there are potentially businesses waiting on these works to be completed to begin their works, the construction of their premises and whatever they need to do. I think that time really is of the essence with this site and I think where possible we need to be expediting that, so if I could just get an answer on that?”    

Breid Neeley, Senior Staff Officer, in the IS Department of Donegal County Council, in reply said that in relation to the construction, “the development works are to be completed in quarter 4, if that makes any difference, but I will bring it (the query) back to Economic Development”.