Saintfield road demands

Saintfield road demands

4 December 2013

RESIDENTS who live along a stretch of one of the district’s busiest roads outside Saintfield have called for it to be upgraded as a matter of urgency.

They have signed a petition calling for the main Crossgar to Saintfield road to be upgraded between Doran’s Rock and the entrance to Rowallane Garden.

The Roads Service plans to complete the design of the proposed upgrade of the one mile stretch of the A7 by the middle of next year, with work to secure the necessary land following in 2015. Roads officials hope construction work can start in mid-2016 and be completed by the end of that year.

Residents have called for a new footpath to be part of the proposed road scheme to address mounting safety concerns. They say the last remaining section of the A7 which has not been upgraded is not safe for pedestrians, schoolchildren, cyclists and bus passengers who are being “put at risk.”

Residents say it’s essential pedestrian safety is an important feature of the proposed upgrade and revealed schoolchildren have to walk to and from a bus stop along part of the fast road.

Mr. Kevin Mullan said the provision of a new footpath as part of the proposed scheme is an “absolute priority” to meet the needs of not only schoolchildren, but people who enjoy walking and want to keep fit.

“There is a bus stop at what is a very fast stretch of road, but there is literally no verge worth talking about for schoolchildren or residents to avoid vehicles travelling at speed. A new footpath must be part of the upgraded road,” he added.

Mr. Mullan’s view was shared by Gillian Johnston who expressed

concern about pedestrian safety along the stretch of road earmarked for the upgrade, while Jean Hay said residents turning off the main road into laneways leading to their homes have to be “ultra-careful,” given the speed of vehicles travelling along the road.

She also suggested a small kink in the A7 close to the entrance to her laneway needs to be straightened as it can “catch motorists out.”

Thomas Withers and Thomas Mageean both endorsed calls for the upgrade to be progressed, with Mr. Withers explaining people who do have to walk along this stretch are “taking their lives in their hands.” He said the biggest problem pedestrians are faced with is speed.

Mr. Philip Cherry said the proposed upgrade is “long overdue” and urged the Roads Service to do all it can to progress the scheme.

Councillor William Dick argued that money earmarked for the aborted A5 scheme in the north west of the Province should be allocated to the Saintfield upgrade.

“The Roads Service must do all it can to prioritise the Saintfield scheme. It must be provided as soon as possible to address the concerns of people who live along this particular stretch and indeed many road users of what is easily one of the district’s most used roads,” he continued.

“Residents have highlighted the need for those in authority to listen to what they are saying and the planned upgrade of this particular road must be progressed as soon as possible.”

Councillor Dick described the section of the A7 which has not been upgraded as “extremely dangerous” and backed calls for a footpath to be included in the design of the planned upgrade. He said the fact around 80 residents have signed the petition calling on the Roads Service to progress the scheme highlights the strength of feeling in the area on what is viewed as a crucially important health and safety issue.