Meeting to discuss Aghilly Road funding

Minister Joe McHugh pictured with the Aghilly Road Steering Committee. From left: Gregory Clarke, Niamh Murphy, Lorraine McBride and Johnny Lynch.

A meeting is to be held in Buncrana tomorrow evening to gauge the community's opinions on how best to spend 65,000 euro in funding which has been granted for improvements on the Aghilly Road.

Almost 90 people attended a public meeting on Friday night over safety fears at the notorious location.

A steering committee was recently set up by a group of concerned residents who are calling for a solution to be found at the ‘death trap’ road before someone is killed.

A number of elected representatives attended Friday’s meeting including Minister Joe McHugh and Councillors Rena Donaghey, Nicholas Crossan, Jack Murray and Albert Doherty.

Speaking to the ‘Journal,’ Aghilly Road committee member Lorraine McBride said the committee along did not want to make the decision on the funding, which was confirmed to them at the meeting by Inishowen Muncipal District chairperson Colr Donaghey. Lorraine said they are asking a representative from each housing estate in the area and the ‘standing houses’ to join them tomorrow, Wednesday, at 7pm in The Exchange, Castle Avenue to discuss their next step.

Lorraine said while the funding is very much welcomed it is not a long-term solution. She said the meeting was also informed that 450,000 in development charges had been ‘ringfenced’ but the entire project will cost in the region of 1.9 million euro.

She said they were advised by Minister McHugh to ensure the Aghilly Road is a key project for the Inishowen Municipal District councillors which she is “told it is.” The committee will make a presentation at their next meeting in February. She added the committee have a lot of plans and received great support so far.