Dangerous path sparks campaign from parents

Dangerous path sparks campaign from parents

27 January 2016

CONCERN about the dangerous state of the only footpath linking Shrigley with Killyleagh will be discussed at crunch meeting in the village tomorrow morning.

Concerned residents are due to meet with officials from Newry, Mourne and Down Council and Transport NI to see who is responsible for cleaning the entire length of the path.

The local council currently cleans a stretch between Killyleagh Primary School and 30mph signs at the Shrigley Road. But the remainder of the path which leads into the village is not cleaned and is currently covered in a film of slime and muck which residents say poses a threat to pedestrians.

There is also concern that street lights along the main road into the village are not working and residents say a man had a lucky escape last week when he slipped on the path and fell on to the main road just a split second after a car had passed him. 

Residents hope at tomorrow morning’s meeting —when they will be joined by Rowallane councillors Terry Andrews and Billy Walker —both the council and roads officials will agree the entire footpath will now be cleaned on a regular basis.

Sharon Quinn believes it is three years since the entire path which leads into Shrigley was cleaned, explaining many people who live in the village who do not have access to a car, walk on the main road when they can to avoid the slippery surface.

“Rotting leaves are making the situation worse and given this is the main footpath into Shrigley it must be cleaned in the interests of pedestrian safety,” she continued. “There are over 200 houses in the village and not everyone has a car. Many people walk into Killyleagh with some parents walking their children to both Killyleagh Primary and St Mary’s Primary. The fact the street lights are not working is also a major concern for us.”

Belle Russell said overgrown grass has encroached on to parts of the path, while Kiera Quinn, who walks her 12-week old baby in the area, is concerned about having to use the path. She added: “It really is awful in parts and it is horrible to push a pram along as the surface is uneven in parts.”

Sandra Simpson said she would not walk her children from Shrigley to Killyleagh Primary School because the footpath is slippery. She added: “We need agreement that the path will be cleaned to reassure those who use it most.”

Denise Young, whose children attend St Mary’s Primary, described parts of the footpath as “hazardous” and appealed to council and roads officials to agree who is responsible for cleaning and maintaining it.

“We are all concerned and it’s vital work starts to clean the footpath to make it safe for everyone.

In addition to people in Shrigley using it, people from outside the village walk along it,” she said.

Lindsey Watters also backed calls for the footpath to be cleaned to ensure the pedestrian link between the village and Killyleagh is safe to walk along. She also confirmed some people would prefer to walk on the main road instead of the path.

Laura Kennedy described parts of the footpath as “disgusting” and also hopes agreement on who is responsible for cleaning its entire length will be reached at tomorrow’s meeting.