It has been confirmed that an oral hearing will take place in Ballybofey later this month to examine objections lodged against the Twin Towns by-pass.

Donegal South-West Senator Brian O’Domhnaill made the announcement yesterday (Tuesday) that an An Bord Pleanála had decided to hold an Oral Hearing on the N15 Ballybofey/Stranorlar Bypass Compulsory Purchase Order 2007.

The hearing will take place on Tuesday, May 20th in Jackson’s Hotel, beginning at 11am and could last several days.

Mr Vincent Hussey will hear objections received against confirmation of the order and submissions relating to the likely effects posed to the environment by the proposed road development. He will then report back to An Bord Pleanála.

The completion date for the new by-pass is set for 2012 and will involve the closure of two roads at Gortletteragh and McFeely’s Brae to allow for a new route linking the by-pass to Ballybofey town.

A total of 115 objections have been received in respect of the CPO with a further 170 submissions regarding the environmental effects of the proposed road development.

All of the submissions received in relation to the by-pass can be inspected by appointment at the offices of Donegal Co. Council and An Bord Pleanála prior to the hearing.

Cllr Patrick McGowan says the hearing will allow landowners the opportunity to put their views forward to ABP, which will then be brought to the NRA in the hope of a feasible outcome.

“Most of the observations raised are from landowners looking for their entitlements. Some of them have had their land frozen for eight years because it has been earmarked for the by-pass. They may not want to lose their land now and are simply looking for proper compensation,” he told the Finn Valley Post.

He added that he would not like to see the two roads closed as it will cause a lot of inconveience to people by hidering their access to the town.

“The town has been suffering in recent years due to all the congestion and it is being viewed as somewhere to be avoided. While the local objection is that the by-pass is going to drive people away from the town, we have waited so long for this by-pass and thought it would never come but now the process is moving forward.”