Govt. told immediate action needed on BMW Region

8/1/2001 -

The Government has been told by a delegation representing Chambers of Commerce, and other groups in the BMW region, that immediate action is needed on a number of specific recommendations, in the areas of energy, roads and telecommunications, to make up for failures in the national plan.
Included in the report from the Chambers of Commerce on Critical Infrastructural Deficits in the BMW region, given to a Cross Departmental Group, yesterday (Mon.) are a number of specific recommendations relating to County Mayo.
The Group said they had identified the failure of the National Development Plan to address many of the issues they were raising. they recommended specific improvements in each area and demanded that the mid-term review be brought forward, emphasising that 2003 would be too late.
The submission said the electricity transmission infrastructure in the region is by and large completely inadequate. On roads it said there is ample evidence to show that the competitiveness of all businesses in the BMW Region is adversely affected as a result of the poor road surface quality and inadequate carriageway width. Tourism is also affected. The submission said the peripheral nature of the region means that the provision of adequate telecommunications infrastructure is essential to develop our economy. Taking Mayo as an example, some 75 per cent of the county have no broadband connectivity.
In the area of energy they recommend - reinforce 110kV lines to Bellacorick immediately; build gas fired electricity station in Bellacorick; improvement in the lines will facilitate extension of the wind farm at Bellacorick and extend 220 Kv into the county within the next three years.
Under the heading of Roads they point out that the NDP provides for investment in the BMW region of ú145,000/sq. km compared to ú345,000/sq.km. in the S & E region despite the fact that the BMW region qualifies for 75 per cent funding. The investment allocations are based on historical vehicle movements and does not consider the current state of the route or the strategic importance of the route to the economic development of the region.
They say the NRA decision to delay six phases of development of the N5 until after 2010 and 2015 is unbelievable given the appalling state of the road today. Two companies in the region reported in excess of ú200,000 in damage to their products in transit on the N5 in 2000.
The group recommended that the N5 must be upgraded in its entirety to standard two lane carriageway within the term of the NDP.
On Telecoms, the Group identified three critical areas that must be addressed, i.e., insufficient broad band access, unbundling the local loop and prohibitive tariffs.
Mayo groups involved are Ballina Chamber of Commerce & Industry; Westport Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Castlebar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Western Roads Action Committee and Mayo Industries Group.