Pilot 20mph speed scheme planned for housing estate

Pilot 20mph speed scheme planned for housing estate

27 August 2014

A PILOT 20mph scheme looks likely to be introduced into Ballynahinch’s Langley Road estate.

The Langley Road is one of five areas across Northern Ireland being considered for the road safety scheme by the Department for Regional Development’s (DRD) Transport NI division.

The proposal was due to be approved at last night’s meeting of Down Council. The PSNI and all houses on the Langley Road estate are also being consulted.

Langley Road Residents Association has been campaigning for years to have road humps installed to reduce speed through the estate. They had been informed by DRD that, while they were on the waiting list, they were not a priority case.

Councillor Garth Craig, who had been campaigning for the traffic calming measures, welcomed the development.

“Given the uncertainty of any physical measures such as road humps being introduced to slow traffic, I am delighted that the Langley Road Estate is being considered for the introduction of the 20mph pilot scheme,” he said.

“I believe this is a result of persistent lobbying and am thankful that the process has started to introduce this scheme.”  

Councillor Craig added: “It will be up to the PSNI to ensure rigorous enforcement of the 20mph speed limit is carried out.”

Councillor Billy Walker also welcomed the news.

“It’s not ramps, but is a start,” he said. “The good thing is the PSNI now has the power to stop anybody driving about 20mph.”

Langley Road residents are to be consulted in September.