Residents say 200 jobs will be lost with plans to bypass Donegal town
Concerned residents in a Co Donegal town claim it will lose more than 200 local jobs and €10m in revenue each year after plans were announced to by-pass it.
The people of Ballybofey and Stranorlar are outraged by plans to build a road from Sligo to Letterkenny.
The local Chamber of Commerce says the road will have a devastating effect on the local community.
The towns are home to Donegal GAA's MacCumhaill Park and Finn Harps' home ground Finn Park as well as McElhinney's Stores and the Balor Theatre.
Chairman of the chamber, Charlie Ferry said: “We have consulted widely with our members – all of them are expecting a significant drop in turnover with those in the Hospitality sector expecting a drop of up to 25% if the TEN-T route corridor proceeds as planned.
Ballybofey and Stranorlar are effectively service towns – shops, hotels and other catering outlets. These are all highly dependent on passing trade and cross-border trade.
"The hospitality sector provides 30% of the jobs in the Twin Towns whereas the figure nationally is 10%.
"Many of the 34 businesses operating in this sector in the Twin Towns are of the view that they will be forced to shut down if the route corridor proceeds as planned.
"Many permanent jobs will be lost and part-time and seasonal employment will be seriously impacted.
"Reduced spending by businesses will have an impact across the whole community – service providers such as tradesmen, cleaners, professional services and others will be directly impacted."
He added that if the bypass goes ahead as planned it will turn Ballybofey and Stranorlar into ghost towns.
