Ministers asked to help end Downpatrick traffic chaos

Ministers asked to help end Downpatrick traffic chaos

11 September 2013

TWO Stormont ministers are to be asked to help deliver a Roads Service proposal to tackle town centre congestion in Downpatrick.

South Down MLA Chris Hazzard hopes Finance Minister Simon Hamilton can help provide the cash to implement the eagerly-awaited scheme and that Justice Minister David Ford can secure permission for roads engineers to survey the PSNI base in the town.

The news comes after Down District’s most senior roads official publicly admitted that Downpatrick suffers from a “significant” traffic congestion problem.

Mr. Kevin Monaghan said the key to unlocking the congestion is the provision of a new one-way system and creating a new road linking Irish Street and St. Patrick’s Avenue, through the current PSNI base and car park at the rear.

But he told local politicians last week that there is no money to finance the scheme and revealed road engineers have not been able to access the PSNI site to carry out essential survey work.

Mr. Hazzard is seeking an urgent meeting with Ministers Hamilton and Ford in a bid to progress both issues to address town centre congestion which he said can result in traffic grinding to a halt at times.

The South Down MLA said he was “satisfied” roads officials recognise both the nature of the problem in Downpatrick and the task ahead in trying to fix it, with the major obstacles securing finance and access to the town’s police base.

Mr. Hazzard continued: “Roads officials are being blocked from accessing the PSNI site to carry out technical assessments which will assist with the development of their traffic plan. I have called for an urgent meeting with Minister Ford to address this issue sensibly and in the best interests of all concerned.

“I have also called for a further meeting with Minister Hamilton and will stress the importance of the proposed roads scheme to alleviate town centre congestion in Downpatrick.

“This issue is without doubt hampering the town’s economic recovery and preventing further business growth and development. I will be urging Mr. Hamilton to ensure the Roads Service is provided with adequate capital funding to carry out the necessary works to help eradicate traffic problems in the town once and for all.”