DRD praised for airport support

The Department for Regional Development deserves warm praise for its demonstration of commitment to the City of Derry Airport and the roads structure in and around Derry, says Londonderry Chamber of Commerce President Jim Sammon.

DRD has just announced that it will contribute £8.6m towards the cost of essential safety works at City of Derry Airport, upgrading the runway and other airport infrastructure. Construction is almost complete on the dualling of the A2 between Maydown and the airport, at £25m one of the largest road projects in the North West in recent years.

The A2 upgrade significantly improves the local road infrastructure in Derry, making links between the airport and city both faster and safer. It is also of major benefit to businesses located in the Maydown and Campsie area.

This is one of a series of local road schemes that is of benefit to the North West. Other welcome local schemes include new road crossings and road resurfacing. Work on the Culmore/Madams Bank roundabout is expected to restart in the near future, with completion in the next few weeks.

Jim Sammon, President of Londonderry Chamber of Commerce, said: "Improvements to the local transport infrastructure in the North West is greatly welcomed. DRD is one of the key departments for the business community - it delivers key infrastructure on which our economy depends. The commitment and expenditure by DRD on that infrastructure helps improve the performance of our local economy.

"The airport is of immense importance to our local economy. Derry City Council deserves praise for its role over the years, despite all the problems, in showing commitment to the airport and taking it to the next stage of its development. And DRD equally deserves praise in its support for the airport and the road link.

"The Chamber is unstinting in its praise of government departments where this is warranted. We are very happy with the DRD investment in our local infrastructure. We are similarly very happy at the DRD's continued commitment to the development of the A5 and the creation of a faster and superior link to Dublin. We urge, though, DRD to make faster progress with the A6 link to Belfast - which remains the most important commercial link for Derry-Londonderry."