By Violet Brown
CALLS for a feasibility study into a bridge over Strangford Lough have been rejected by the Department for Infrastructure.
The Department (DfI) has dismissed appeals from Strangford MLA Michelle McIlveen for a new examination of a bridge project at the narrowest part of the Lough between Portaferry and Strangford villages.
A DfI statement issued last week said there is ‘no immediate need’ for a fixed crossing and it is not one of the Department’s ‘objectives for delivery’ over the next 10 years.
Miss McIlveen had proposed DfI carry out a feasibility study into a bridge as one of a number of measures to alleviate traffic congestion in the greater Newtownards area.
The DUP Assemblywoman said she believed a bridge would benefit isolated villages across the Ards peninsula.
“I have been contacted by dozens of people who have welcomed the idea and who recognise the potential a bridge could have for the Ards peninsula and the Strangford side of the lough,” Miss McIlveen said.
“The tourism prospect alone makes this an idea worth investigating.”
She added it was a ‘pity’ that not all MLAs are on the same page on the bridge and said if they were all serious about improving the lives of our constituents there needed to be ambitious thinking.
“A bridge across the Narrows is one of those key infrastructure projects that would benefit many of those isolated villages the most,” Miss McIlveen continued. “Connectivity is one of the major problems affecting the peninsula and this needs to be addressed.”
She said it was ‘quite clear’ from negative departmental responses that the bridge proposal was an issue which needed to be driven by local representatives.
Peninsula councillor Joe Boyle has expressed his huge disappointment at a recent response from the Infrastructure minister, Liz Kimmins, to the request for a feasibility study into the bridge whilst addressing an earlier 7.15am Strangford Ferry crossing.
Mr Boyle said DfI’s stance was at odds with local public opinion from residents and users on both sides of Strangford Lough. “The Minister has also failed to acknowledge the benefits of a 7.15am crossing,” he said.
A DfI spokeswoman explained the Department development plan, which will run until 2035, was being developed using a phased approach, and within the current planning framework no immediate need for a fixed crossing at Strangford had been identified against the plan’s objectives for delivery by 2035.
“The Strangford Lough Ferry Service operates every day of the year except Christmas Day, from early morning to late-night serving both the local community and local tourism through the provision of a reliable service and is considered the most economical transportation link between Strangford and Portaferry,” she said.
“Previous arrangements including the additional return crossing between 07:20 and 08:15 were short term and introduced to adhere to social distancing requirements in place at that time, enabling safe transportation of the high number of passengers attending educational settings.”
