Strangford Lough Crossing — Public Pledge Tracker

Will you back an independent feasibility study, and keep to it?

This tracker records who has committed, in public and in writing, to an independent TAG-compliant feasibility study of a fixed crossing between Portaferry and Strangford, and whether that commitment is being kept. The same test applies to every party and every candidate.

Why now: the Eastern Transport Plan

On 26 October 2026 the Department for Infrastructure published the first part of the Eastern Transport Plan 2035 for consultation. It covers Belfast and the wider Belfast Metropolitan Area, not the Ards Peninsula.

The Minister has told the Assembly that the connection between Strangford and Portaferry “would, instead, be considered in the eastern transport plan that covers Ards and North Down and the Newry, Mourne and Down local transport plan”. The Department has also said that “Consideration of the need for a detailed assessment of the bridge between Portaferry and Strangford will be informed by the outcome of the Eastern Transport Plan.”

The Department’s own timetable schedules further council chapters for 2026/27, and the Ards and North Down chapter, which would cover Portaferry, for “later in 2027”.

The Strangford Lough Crossing must be referenced in that chapter. An independent TAG-compliant feasibility study, commissioned now, would give it the evidence it needs.

Sources: Department for Infrastructure, news release, 26 October 2026; Northern Ireland Assembly, Official Report, 11 May 2026, AQO 3527/22-27, p. 34; Written Answer AQW 30608/22-27, 23 September 2025; Department for Infrastructure, First part of Eastern Transport Plan 2035, Annex A (Habitats Regulations Assessment), Table 2-1 “ETP Phasing and ISA”. Full references are listed under Sources.

“I commit to an independent TAG-compliant feasibility study of a Strangford Lough fixed crossing, costing £250,000–£500,000, and will publicly press the Department for Infrastructure to:

commission it as soon as possible, and before the Assembly election in May 2027;
publish the terms of reference when it is commissioned;
publish the full report within 12 months of commissioning; and
give a ministerial response within 3 months of publication.”

The pledge asks for a feasibility study, not a bridge. TAG is Transport Analysis Guidance, the framework used across the UK to appraise transport schemes. It commits no one to a particular outcome, only to finding out, in public and on a timetable.

Sending the pledge: the pledge will be emailed to each declared Strangford candidate, with a personal signing link, starting in the week beginning Monday 2 November 2026. Candidates who declare after that are sent it within 7 days of their candidacy being announced. The date each email is sent will be shown against the candidate’s name.

The feasibility study itself

Has the Department delivered?

Each milestone is measured against the Department for Infrastructure. Each moves to “Kept” only when there is an official, published record.

How a Department decision will be recorded

These outcomes are published in advance and apply whichever way, and whenever, the Minister decides. Every decision is recorded promptly, in the Department’s own words, with its source.

Politicians

Where each politician stands

The status shows whether the person has signed the pledge. The public record shows what they have said or done about a feasibility study, with a link to the source. “No public statement found” means we have not found one, not that the person opposes a feasibility study.

Councils and parties

Already on the record

Both councils whose areas the Lough divides have asked the Minister, without dissent, to fund a feasibility study. Formal votes and minutes are the hardest commitments to walk back.

Timeline

How we got here

How statuses work

The test, published in advance

Every status is defined before it is used, so no one can argue about the rules afterwards.

How signing works. The pledge is sent to each Strangford candidate within 7 days of their candidacy being publicly announced, by email with a personal signing link, and the date it was sent is shown against their name. New candidates are added to the tracker as they declare. Sitting MLAs who have not yet declared will be sent the pledge when they do. They tick the pledge, give their official email address and, if they wish, a short statement. The campaign then writes to that official address to confirm, and the entry changes to “Signed” only once they reply. No one can be shown as signed on the strength of a form alone. Any declared candidate who has not received a link can ask for one through the campaign at quintinqs.com.

Right of reply. Any politician, candidate or party can sign the pledge, correct their entry or add a source through the campaign at quintinqs.com. Corrections are published with the date of the change. This tracker reports only what is on the public record. It does not endorse or oppose any party or candidate.