Minister urged to pay £700,000 bill

Minister urged to pay £700,000 bill

19 December 2012

THE Roads Service has been asked to come up with funding to resurface Ballynahinch town centre.

Local politicians made the case for the work — which could cost as much as £700,000 — during a meeting with Stormont Environment Minister Danny Kennedy yesterday morning.

Mr. Kennedy said he arrived in the town not as Santa and certainly not as Scrooge, but was there to listen so he could go back to his officials to see what could be done.

Work is due to start on a £2m environmental improvement scheme in the market town next April and is scheduled to be completed by March the following year. The scheme is being funded by the Department for Social Development and Down Council.

Early in the New Year, Northern Ireland Water is to start work on a major scheme to replace mains sewer and water pipes in Ballynahinch town centre which will result in a number of roads being dug up.

A major resurfacing scheme is not included in the environmental scheme and local politicians are hoping the Roads Service can secure the money to allow this to happen.

They argue resurfacing the entire town centre from the Church Street roundabout to Windmill Street, via High Street, Main Street and Harmony Way, will complement the environmental improvements and act as a catalyst to secure new economic investment.

Councillor Anne McAleenan said NIE and BT have advanced work they plan to do in Ballynahinch so when the environmental improvements are completed, roads and footpaths won’t be dug up again.

Councillor Mickey Coogan said before work starts on the various schemes proposed for the town centre, a number of roads are already in need of repair. He said a major resurfacing scheme once all the work has been completed is what’s needed and will make a major difference.

Councillors Garth Craig and Patsy Toman endorsed calls for the town centre to be resurfaced, with councillor Craig conceding the cost of such a scheme was quite high. However, he suggested it should be considered to see what is possible with any money that may be available.

Mr. Kennedy, who was making his second visit to Ballynahinch this year and was joined by Strangford MLA Mike Nesbitt, welcomed plans for all work proposed by the various utility companies in the town to be completed before work on the environmental improvements is completed.

Mr. Kennedy agreed to take the views of councillors away to take a close look at their resurfacing suggestion with his officials to see what level of assistance could be provided.

“It is important Ballynahinch benefits from a scheme which will regenerate the town. I can understand the argument for the resurfacing scheme to be part of the environmental improvements but the area involved is quite a stretch,” he continued.

“Let me go back and ask my officials to see how we can work with you to see what is possible. There will be a need to prepare detailed costs and look at how such a scheme relates to other proposed schemes in the area and other competing demands.”

Mr. Kennedy said he would ask his officials to look at how his department can assist with the potential resurfacing of sections of road in Ballynahinch town centre or the scheme as outlined by local representatives. He agreed to have a follow up meeting with them at Stormont to discuss the issue further.

The roads minister said a major resurfacing scheme would result in upheaval and would require the support of local traders. In response, Chamber of Commerce president Mark Murnin said traders are keen to see the various schemes progress and recognise there will be disruption.

Also during yesterday’s visit, Mr. Kennedy gave a brief update on plans for Ballynahinch’s new multi-million pound by-pass linking the Belfast and Newcastle roads. The Minister said officials are “continuing to see how they can move the scheme to an advanced stage.”