Northern Ireland

Traffic disruption expected as UFU confirm farmers’ protests to go ahead on Saturday

The Ulster Farmers Union (UFU) is organising seven separate tractor runs, with two in Co Down and one in each of the north’s five other counties.

Farmers in tractors make their way along the A303 near Andover, Hampshire
Thousands of farmers in tractors will make their way along major roads in Northern Ireland on Saturday (Andrew Matthews/PA)
By Conor Coyle

A protest involving thousands of tractors will go ahead on Saturday following Storm Éowyn, as farmers take their objection to planned inheritance tax changes to Northern Ireland’s roads.

The Ulster Farmers Union (UFU) is organising seven separate tractor runs, with two in Co Down and one in each of the north’s five other counties.

UFU has confirmed that the protest will go ahead as planned on Saturday, despite a large number of road obstructions caused by Storm Éowyn on Friday.

All will start at 2pm, with applications to the Parades Commission stating that up to 400 tractors are expected to take part in each run, and the PSNI have advised motorists to be aware of the processions and to take alternative routes.

The processions are being held to protest the British government’s proposed changes to agricultural property relief (APR), which limits the inheritance tax that farmers and landowners must pay when passing farmland on to heirs by up to 100%.

Join the Irish News Whatsapp channel

The PSNI has said it expects the coordinated events across the north to begin at 2pm and finish at 4pm.

“Motorists are advised to plan for possible delays, and drive with extra care if they are in an area where the convoy is passing through.

“Police will be on duty, and will deal with any traffic-related issues that arise.”

The planned parades are due to take place at the following locations:

  • Saintfield - Beginning from Maze Long Kesh and travelling towards Saintfield livestock market
  • Banbridge - Also beginning from Maze Long Kesh and travelling towards Banbridge via the A1
  • Ballymena - Starting and finishing at the town’s livestock market at Woodside Road, moving through the town centre and taking in Ahoghill
  • Armagh - Formation Works at Edenaveys Road and heading towards Markethill before going north to Richhill and back towards Armagh.
  • Derry - Starting at the former Lisahally Livestock Market site at Strathfoyle, moving through Derry city’s Waterside area and crossing the Craigavon Bridge, before moving up through the Cityside and back across the Foyle Bridge
  • Omagh - Starting and finishing at the town’s auction mart at Gillygooley Road, and taking in a route that passes Omagh Hospital at Donaghanie Road.
  • Enniskillen - Starting from the mart at Old Tempo Road, and takes in a loop of the town through Drumcoo and back south past Forthill Park before returning to the starting point