Strabane and Donegal Sinn Fein Councillors adopting co-ordinated approach to secure infrastructure improvements for border communities

Sinn Fein Councillors in Strabane and Donegal are continuing to co-ordinate their efforts to secure additional infrastructure improvements for communities along the Tyrone/Donegal Border.

In a joint statement Cllr Gerard Foley, Vice Chair of Strabane District Council and his Donegal party counterpart Cllr Tony Mc Daid said that their current efforts are focussed on securing the upgrading of the cross border Clady to Castlederg Road and on securing the provision of a footpath and street-lighting between Clady and Donneyloop Chapel.

The two councillors who had previously worked together on the issue of securing traffic lights for Clady Bridge said,

“We are once again lobbying the respective statutory bodies on both sides of the border to adopt a joined up approach to progress these issues.

“In terms of the cross-border route from Clady to Castlederg, we welcome the fact that an application for substantial funding has now been submitted to the National Road’s Authority for the resurfacing and re-strengthening of a 1.5 km stretch of the road up to the Castlederg border where the surface is in a terrible state.

“In the interim, Donegal County Council’s Road’s Section has given an undertaking to fill in the numerous pot holes on the stretch of the road under its responsibility during November.

“However, given the importance of this route for communities on both sides of the border we are seeking that the National Roads Authority and the DRD Roads Service make a joint application to the Interreg 4 Programme to secure European cross-border funding to enable the route to be substantially upgraded including road widening and road strengthening.

“Likewise, we will be seeking both roads bodies to make a joint application for a scheme to provide footpath and street-lighting between Donneyloop Chapel and Clady so as to enable pedestrians to safely negotiate their way to and from worship and for social and recreational activities.