Strangford to get a major traffic survey

Strangford to get a major traffic survey

3 February 2016

ROADS officials are to carry out a transport review in Strangford village which will look at congestion caused by vehicles waiting to board the ferry.

Residents and politicians want the Department of Regional Development (DRD) to ensure the review focuses on the impact the tailbacks are having and to pave the way for a dedicated queuing lane adjacent to the ferry terminal and TransportNI car park to be used instead. The lane has been in place for many years but rarely used.

The call for the dedicated lane to be used was issued during a meeting involving DRD officials, politicians and representatives from the village’s community association. They met to discuss local concern that work to upgrade the slipway ahead of the arrival of a new multi-million pound ferry later this year was progressing without “planning and consultation.”

Concern was expressed that work on the slipway is progressing on the assumption that vehicles using the ferry service will continue to queue though the village, rather than use the official queueing lane.

South Down MLA Chris Hazzard — who organised the meeting — said residents are becoming  increasingly frustrated at the congestion in the village relating to the ferry service, particularly at peak times when the tailback of vehicles stretches a considerable distance.

“Unfortunately, this frustration is often exacerbated by the fact that the queuing system to the east of the ferry terminal is rarely used throughout the year. During our discussions last week it became clear that an over-arching transport review of the village may represent the best way forward in finding an agreeable solution,” he continued.

The MLA has also asked for a pilot 20 mph speed limit to be introduced at the Downpatrick Road in the village adjacent to St Joseph’s Primary School to curb the speed of drivers rushing to board the ferry. In addition, Mr Hazzard said public transport access to the village square needs to be reviewed, given the problems created by congestion around the bus terminal.

Councillor Cadogan Enright argued that if the DRD wishes to substitute roads in the village for the ferry crossing’s unused queuing area, it needs to consult with local people. 

“Clearly under the new area plan, Newry, Mourne and Down Council will have the final say on how villages are planned and used by other government agencies. The local authority will be using the new community planning process to ensure solutions to this problem are embedded in the new area plan,” he said.

The councillor believes an area between the ferry terminal and dry dock would have been an “ideal location” for the new slipway and would have ensured vehicles wishing to use the crossing would use the dedicated queuing area already in place, adding: “Yet again, the DRD has gone for the cheap option in Strangford.”

John Scholfield and Diarmuid Riordan, members of the village’s community association, share the concerns of both politicians.

Mr Scholfield suggested it appears the DRD did consider acquiring land opposite the ferry terminal in order to make access to the queuing area more feasible with either less or no staff, adding: “It is to be regretted it did not pursue this option.”

Mr Riordan said on a positive note, the meeting provided an opportunity to raise the issue of the 20mph speed limit outside the village primary school. He added: “We were also able to ask for a fresh look at the ‘dreadful edifice’ built by the council last year known locally as the ‘giraffe pound’ at the Upper Green to create a proper bus waiting area and bus-stop.”