Vow to blockade motorway in compensation claim

THE construction company behind the new N6 motorway is set to be innundated by a barrage of solicitors’ letters and legal actions from hundreds of farmers and motorists who are claiming compensation for damage done to their lands, roads and vehicles since work on the road began.And with just 80 days to go until the scheduled opening of the final Galway to Ballinasloe stretch of the motorway, local farmers and residents along the route have vowed to blockade the motorway unless they get their cash.With hundreds of people now awaiting compensation from the company behind the scheme – N6 Construction Ltd – local organisers say a structured campaign of regular blockades could begin as early as this weekend in an effort to slow down completion of the project.They say that contrary to their understanding at the outset of construction that any damage done to roads or lands would be promptly repaired, their complaints have been ignored and they have been left out of pocket and frustrated. It is estimated car owners throughout the county whose vehicles have been damaged by massive potholes on local roads have a combined claim against the company of €100,000, while dozens of other claims from farmers whose lands have been left flooded or who have had their work severely disrupted by the construction work have yet to be calculated.In a coordinated effort amongst all those affected, almost 200 solicitors’ letters will be sent to N6 Construction Ltd in the coming days as locals have been advised to proceed through the legal route as well as through their blockades of the road itself. The latest in a series of public meetings will take place tomorrow night (Friday) in Athenry to allow angry land and property owners to air their grievances and to take legal advice on how they can each individually proceed with their claims.The N6 Galway to Ballinasloe Road is being completed as a Public Private Partnership and cases may be taken against Galway County Council, the National Roads Authority and N6 Construction Ltd.More than one hundred people attended a meeting in New Inn earlier this week, where the rallying cry from the organisers – Fine Gael Senator Ciaran Cannon, Fine Gael Councillor Michael Maher and Independent Councillor Tim Broderick – was for a united front from all who have been affected.Speaking to The Connacht Tribune yesterday, Cllr Maher said the major fear now is that once the road is completed, the construction company will move off site and out of the country and will not carry out repairs to local roads or farms. Continued on page 2 of the Tribune.