Need for roads officials to finish street scheme

Need for roads officials to finish street scheme

3 April 2019

ROADS officials have been urged to complete work on a near £700,000 regeneration street scheme in Irish Street in Downpatrick before Easter.

The scheme was due to complete last Friday, but the Recorder revealed last week that contractors require an additional month to provide new granite footpaths, lighting and street furniture. The layout of the street is also being redesigned in places.

The Department for Communities and Newry, Mourne and Down Council are funding the initiative, with the government department making a £543,000 contribution to the environmental improvement scheme, with the local authority providing the remainder of the cash.

Council officials have explained that as Phoenix Gas took longer than expected to complete work in Irish Street as part of a multi-million pound investment to provide residents and business owners with access to mains gas, the public realm contractor was subsequently delayed.

A one-way traffic system has been in operation for the past few weeks and this is expected to conclude once the public realm work has been completed. 

South Down MLA Colin McGrath has expressed concern about the delay in completing the scheme and met with Department of Infrastructure officials to outline his concern.

He said he had been in regular contact with officials on the issue to make clear the concerns of business owners affected by the ongoing roadworks.  

“We have recently heard that these roadworks will continue for another four weeks,” said Mr McGrath. “This represents another four weeks of upheaval for the business owners of Irish Street.”

The Assemblyman said he was delighted that Irish Street will benefit from the investment, but highlighted issues about communication between those carrying out the work and business owners, describing this as “not good enough”.

Mr McGrath continued: “I have raised this point with those delivering the project and been in contact with a number of businesses, hand delivering a letter informing them of the ongoing issues. There was absolutely nothing preventing the Department from taking such action.

“At this stage, it is vital that these roadworks are completed before Easter. I would appeal to anyone in the area who has been negatively affected by them or who will be affected to get in touch with my office and raise the issue.”