Armstrong clashes with Minister over funding

Armstrong clashes with Minister over funding

21 September 2016

STRANGFORD Assemblywoman Kellie Armstrong has urged Infrastructure Minister Chris Hazzard to stop taking credit for decisions taken by his predecessor.

Ms Armstrong called for the Minister to announce new investment in roads in the Strangford constituency, rather than announcing money already spent.

Responding to a statement from Mr Hazzard about investment in roads in Ards and North Down, Ms Armstrong said his press release referred to investment from last year as part of a long term strategy agreed years ago.

Accusing the Minister and the Department of congratulating themselves on a job completed last year on the main commuter roads, she said there seemed no urgency to address the ongoing issue of potholes and collapsing road edges in rural areas. 

She claimed this was not the first time the Minister had taken credit for the work of previous Ministers. 

“It’s about time he did some work and invested money in the rural roads in the Ards and Strangford constituency area, including Saintfield, Ballygowan, Darragh Cross, Ballynahinch, Killyleagh, and Killinchy.

“It would have been a lot more helpful if the Minister had announced further funding to sort out the dreadful state of the rural roads around the Peninsula that are being ignored by Transport NI,” she added.

“The Department has confirmed over £17,000 was paid out in claims for vehicle damage in North Down and Ards last year. 

“The Minister should think long and hard about road safety, part of his responsibility, and how poor road conditions are already damaging vehicles. None of us want poor road conditions to be a contributing factor in a road death.”

However, Mr Hazzard has defended his position and said keeping local representatives, councils and the community informed about ongoing work in the local area and future plans is an activity Transport NI undertakes regularly.

“Since becoming Infrastructure Minister I have made clear my commitment to addressing the needs of rural communities and perhaps Ms Armstrong missed my June announcements to allocate £10m to improve rural roads and an additional £5m to address other road maintenance issues like grass cutting and street light repairs, all of which will benefit rural communities across the north,” he said.

“To clarify, around £584,000 has been spent on re-surfacing schemes in the Ards and Strangford area in the current financial year, including schemes at Glasswater Road Crossgar, Creevyargon Road Ballynahinch, Abbey Road Millisle, Manse Road Glastry Ballyaughery Road, Saintfield,  and Beechview Road Crossgar.”