Dual Carriageway M2 Ballymena By-Pass

24 January 2005

Ms Julie Ferris
Principal Environmental Scientist
Unit 2 Westbank Business Park
Westbank Drive
Belfast BT3 9LA

Dear Ms Ferris

Re: Dual Carriageway from Southern End of the M2 Ballymena By-Pass

These works have been planned for many years and some of the civil engineering has been in place since the Larne Road roundabout was completed. The surroundings have lain derelict and do not enhance the surrounding countryside or the setting of Ballymena. The works are likely to have a significant visual impact when viewed from the Larne Road descent towards Ballymena. CNCC would hope to see an imaginative and extensive landscaping scheme taking in both the new works and the existing roundabout and its approaches. This should incorporate Habitat Creation, Wildlife Corridors, and Sustainable Drainage in addition to Native Species planting and clever use of earthworks. Sodium Vapour Lighting should be avoided for reasons of both improved road safety and reduction of light pollution. Strong consideration should be given towards the use of up to date systems which deliver reduced light pollution. The hard shoulder areas of the existing roundabout are used for parking vehicles whose owners share transport with others. Given the requirement for the Departments to prioritize sustainability, both car-sharing and 'park and ride' are to be encouraged. We would recommend that an appropriate scheme is implemented for this important transport hub. I hope these comments prove useful.

Yours sincerely,

Dr Lucinda Blakiston Houston
Chairman