The Existing Environment

A5 Western Transport Corridor Volume 1 - Environmental Statement

5 THE EXISTING ENVIRONMENT

5.1 Context

5.1.1 Travelling from north to south, the physical and natural environment associated with the Proposed Scheme corridor (herewith referred to as the Proposed Scheme) is one of marked contrasts. The paragraphs below describe the existing environment, split into 3 sections for ease of reference.

5.2 New Buildings to South of Strabane

5.2.1 Between New Buildings and Strabane the Plate 5.1 The River Foyle Proposed Scheme would be located within the broad valley of the River Foyle. It is a large-scale and imposing landscape in which the wide valley floor flanking the river channel is framed by the prominent profile of the Sperrin Mountains to the east, the highest of the peaks being Slievekirk in the north and Owenreagh Hill to the east of Strabane. Beneath the profile of the mountains there is a series of foothills which form the transition from the high valley perimeter to the wide valley floor. Prominent foothills include Gortmonly Hill to the south of Magheramason and Knockavoe to the east of Strabane.

5.2.2 There is a significant break in the foothills in the form of the valley of the east-west flowing Burn Dennet, a significant tributary of the River Foyle. The tributary valley fans out such that the middle third of this section crosses the wide mouth of the valley. 5.2.3 The Sperrins south of the Burn Dennet Valley mark the most northerly part of the Sperrin Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). 5.2.4 A second, small tributary of the River Foyle, the Glenmornan River, joins the Foyle immediately south of the confluence with the Burn Dennet. The tributary’s catchment extends to the south-east into the foothills and western margin of the Sperrins. The tributary valley becomes well-contained and intimate once it passes the northern limit of Ballymagorry and passes through Artigarvan.

5.2.5 The Foyle valley is flanked on its western side by a grouping of lower hills comprising of/the Dooish Mountain, Binnion Hill and Croaghan Hill. The tributary valleys of the Swilly Burn and Deele River form a notable break between the hill crests north of Strabane on the western side of the Foyle.

A5 Western Transport Corridor Volume 1 - Environmental Statement

5.2.6 Strabane town, the residential, administrative and commercial centre of Strabane District is the largest of the settlements associated with this part of the Proposed Scheme. Other smaller centres of population include New Buildings, Magheramason, Bready, Cloughcor and Ballymagorry. 5.2.7 Recognised ecological and nature conservation interests are represented in the form of:

 the River Foyle and Tributaries Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI);  the River Finn SAC; and  McKean’s Moss ASSI. 5.2.8 Historic buildings and sites of archaeological interest are located throughout the area, the most recognisable and extensive being the Strabane Canal, the line of which is readily evident between the northern outskirts of Strabane and its exit lock on to the River Foyle. 5.2.9 Where the Proposed Scheme would pass to the west of Strabane and along the immediate eastern margin of the River Finn, the principal environmental interests comprise the residential community that frames the urban edge of the town and the ecologically important River Finn SAC.

5.3 South of Strabane to South of Omagh 5.3.1 South of Strabane the Proposed Scheme would be located within the moderately incised valley of the Mourne River and enters the more deeply incised valley of the Strule River south of Newtownstewart. 5.3.2 Sion Mills, a historically important settlement associated with an expanding linen industry in the mid C19th, marks a point of transition from the urban river valley through Strabane to one within the countryside. The valley is framed to the west by a series of rounded foothills that mark the western margins of the Sperrin AONB. Beyond the foothills the profiles of Conthem Hill and Meenashesk Hill mark the skyline. The lower valley slopes are sparsely settled, the one notable settlement being Douglas Bridge located on the Douglas Burn as it descends from the Sperrins. 5.3.3 The western valley side is defined by hills similar in form and scale to those east of the river, the most prominent being Glentimon Hill and Clady Hill. The valley slopes are moderately steep. The settlements of Sion Mills and Victoria Bridge occupy locations on the flatter margins alongside the river, whilst Glebe is located west of Sion Mills in an area where the mid slopes are relatively gentle. At the confluence with the River Derg there are views along the valley to the west towards Ardstraw. 5.3.4 There is a significant node in the landscape in this part of the Proposed Scheme at Newtownstewart. The town sits to the west of the River Strule on slopes rising above a distinctive meander in the river which also marks its confluence with the Owenkillew River. The northern slopes of Bessy Bell provide an imposing backdrop to the town to

A5 Western Transport Corridor Volume 1 - Environmental Statement

the south west. It is a composition which is well appreciated from the existing A5 as it crosses the meander in the river and bypasses the town to the north and east. It is also a composition which can be viewed from parts of the foothills and western Sperrins north of the River Strule. A windfarm located near to the elongated crest of Bessy Bell is a distinctive feature in some of these more distant views. Harry Avery’s Castle is a prominent and important reminder of former times set on the lower slopes to the west of the town.

Plate 5.2 Harry Avery’s Castle

A5 Western Transport Corridor Volume 1 - Environmental Statement

5.3.5 Recognised ecological and nature conservation interests are represented in the form of:

 The River Foyle and Tributaries Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI);  Owenkillew River (SAC) and (ASSI); and  Tully Bog (SAC) and (ASSI). 5.3.6 South of Newtownstewart the valley is deeply incised. Bessy Bell rises sharply to the west. Mary Gray and Deers Leap appear prominently to the east. The Proposed Scheme extends from the river, west across the existing road corridor and across the lower and mid slopes of Bessy Bell. The more elevated parts of the Proposed Scheme are open to view from the hills east of the river and appear in views from a complex network of local roads east of the river that extends as far as the Gortin Glen Forest Park.

Plate 5.3 Looking east from Bessy Bell to Deers Leap

5.3.7 As the Proposed Scheme emerges from the incised valley, the landscape opens out. There is an initial tract of undulating landform which gives way to the broad floodplain of the Fairy Water. At the western margins of the Proposed Scheme there are substantial blocks of woodland which frame a distinctive local area in the context of the open valley landscape. 5.3.8 South of the floodplain and west of Omagh there is a locally elevated area of drumlins. Stands of tree planting and boundary hedges combine with the intricate landform to frame an area composed of a series of intimate cells through which a complex network of local roads is threaded. It is a pattern which extends throughout the Proposed Scheme to the south of the town as the drumlin landform continues, albeit at a generally lower elevation than the area to the west.

A5 Western Transport Corridor Volume 1 - Environmental Statement

5.4 South of Omagh to Aughnacloy

5.4.1 The landscape associated with the Proposed Scheme south of Omagh is characterised by extensive areas of drumlin lowland, enclosed and divided by a series of sandstone ridges and local hill forms. Immediately south of Omagh there is an area of intimate drumlin landscape through which the Drumragh River meanders in a shallow but well contained valley. 5.4.2 Near Gortaclare, the landform of Curr Mountain marks a change in landscape character as the rolling dip slope terrain of the Brougher ridgeline is encountered. The Proposed Scheme would move to the west of Garvaghy Big Hill passing Newtownsaville and Eskra before rising onto the Brougher Ridge west of Tycanny. As it crosses the ridge and begins to descend towards the Clogher Valley the Proposed Scheme is contained within a shallow elevated valley flanked by Beltany Hill, Birney’s Hill and Tycanny Hill. Errigal Keerogue Church is a prominent and important ecclesiastical site, set on the higher slopes to the south of Tycanny. 5.4.3 The Clogher Valley lowlands are broadly confined between the Brougher Mountain and Slievemore ridges to the north and Slieve Beagh to the south. This is a distinctive part of the Proposed Scheme with a drumlin landform crossed by a network of rivers and streams. Between the drumlins are numerous local water courses, small raised bogs and numerous hedgerows. 5.4.4 The crossing of the A4 marks a transition as the influence of the Brougher Ridge is left behind. Black Hill, an outlying and conspicuous drumlin/moraine landform marks this point of transition between the higher, rolling terrain of Big Hill/Branny Hill to the east of the Proposed Scheme and the lower valley setting of the River Blackwater to the west. 5.4.5 Views from within and across this landscape are varied. The hill mass of Slieve Beagh is the primary backdrop to elevated views from the Proposed Scheme. There are filtered expansive vistas towards the rounded, wooded hills of Favour Royal Forest. At lower levels the landscape is markedly more intimate with views contained by the rounded drumlin landforms. 5.4.6 The settlement of Aughnacloy is located at the southern end of the Proposed Scheme on the River Blackwater where it leaves the Clogher Valley. Here, the surrounding landscape is one of visually appealing drumlin landform and riverside settings. The historic core of the town is located on a drumlin crest, set above the shallow river margin landscapes and drumlin landforms of the river. The town’s churches are conspicuous features of the landscape setting, often visible through drumlin landforms and providing a strong sense of place. 5.4.7 West of the town there is a broad and low-lying marginal river landscape with widespread views to distinct and rounded drumlin landforms, with Slieve Beagh a distant backdrop. The influence of the town and of designed landscapes is marked, with extensive views to Ravellea across the “Thistle”, an early C18th design laid out in a series of extensive

A5 Western Transport Corridor Volume 1 - Environmental Statement

ditches and planted banks. The form of the Thistle is barely evident at ground level but can be noticed from the elevated prospect of the town. 5.4.8 To the east and north of the town, there is a more elevated and enclosed landscape of moraine deposits with restricted views and occasional prospects westwards. As the nature of the terrain rises towards neighbouring hills, the hummocky form and pattern of the drumlins varies, with slightly wider prospects through the river valley connecting Aughnacloy with Carnteel. To the south, the River Blackwater continues to influence the drumlin defined valley landscape across the border with ROI.

Plate 5.4 Looking east across the drumlin landscape from the Brougher Ridge