Laura on offensive over road safety at busy local junction

Laura on offensive over road safety at busy local junction

9 January 2013

A DOWNPATRICK schoolgirl is leading the campaign for improved safety at one of the town’s busiest road junctions.

Twelve year-old Laura McCann, who lives at The Demesne development, has contacted local politicians in her bid to improve safety at the Ardglass Road junction with the Ballyhornan Road.

The opening of the new Downe Hospital and the relocation of Down Council and the Housing Executive to the Downshire site has resulted in a major increase in traffic at this part of the town.

Laura, who has enlisted the support of South Down MP Margaret Ritchie and councillor Colin McGrath, said there is an urgent need to improve safety at the road junction.

In particular, the Assumption Grammar School student has identified the need for a crossing to cater for the needs of children making their way to catch school buses and those who attend Our Lady and St. Patrick Primary School in nearby Edward Street.

Laura said a crossing would also make this part of Downpatrick safer for many pedestrians, including elderly people making their way to a local shop and bus stops in the area.

“The junction is very busy at all times, not just in the morning when there are children making their way to a number of schools in the town. The traffic is increasing due to the number of organisations which have moved to the Downshire estate and the nearby Downe Hospital,” she continued.

“I decided to contact Miss Ritchie to help me with the campaign to make this area safer. I suppose we need something like a pedestrian crossing,” she suggested.

Laura hopes both the MP and councillor McGrath will do all they can to increase road safety at this part of Downpatrick.

Miss Ritchie said while she raised this issue with Roads Service officials in the past, there was a negative response. But she has contacted them again and hopes for a more favourable outcome.

“Given the number of organisations which have relocated to the Downshire site, where work on a new PSNI district command headquarters is currently underway, the situation has changed,” she said.

“There is a lot more traffic at this particular junction and the need to protect pedestrians, including young people and the elderly, is increasingly important.”

The MP said there is a need for the Roads Service to take a close look at traffic management at the Ardglass/Ballyhornan road junction, suggesting consideration could perhaps be given to developing a roundabout.

“There is a need for something to be done to address both pedestrian and driver safety. In my opinion, consideration should be given to providing a dedicated pedestrian crossing facility,” she added.

Councillor Colin McGrath said it is “particularly refreshing” that a schoolgirl has approached politicians to address her concerns about road safety.

“It’s important we are kept on our toes by all age groups. It’s also important young people can come forward with issues of concern and it’s vital we represent people like Laura. What she is doing should be encouraged and that others also come forward,” he said.

Councillor McGrath added: “It is great to see young people taking leadership. Politicians recognise that their views are important and that we need to take our young people seriously.”