Residents’ joy over footpath upgrade

Residents’ joy over footpath upgrade

3 February 2016

RESIDENTS in Shrigley are celebrating after winning assurances a “dangerous” footpath to Killyleagh will be upgraded and cleaned.

Twenty four hours after their concerns were highlighted in last week’s Recorder, officials from TransportNI and Newry, Mourne and Down Council agreed to ensure new storm drains are provided and the path cleaned on a regular basis.

During a meeting last Thursday morning with representatives from both organisations, residents voiced concern about the poor state of the path covered in a film of slime and muck which people who use warned poses a threat to pedestrians.

There is also concern that street lights along the main road into the village are not working.

The local council currently cleans a stretch of the footpath 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. Residents, who were joined at last week’s meeting by Rowallane councillors Billy Walker and Terry Andrews, are pleased their concerns are to be addressed.

Councillor Walker said council cleansing staff are to undertake an immediate and major clean of the footpath which has now been added to the district cleansing schedule which means it will be regularly swept.

In addition, TransportNI is to provide several new storm drains to ensure flood water does not gather close to the path and deposit mud on the surface.

Councillor Walker said residents are grateful to TransportNI’s Hugh Morgan and the local council’s 

Peter Whyte for meeting them and immediately agreeing to address their concerns.

“The debris and dirt on the path will be removed immediately with one of the council’s solo sweepers now cleaning it on a regular basis,” he explained. “Finance permitting, two new storm drains will also be provided by TransportNI.

“There has been a problem with flood water pooling beside a section of the footpath and when it subsided dirt, rotting leaves and debris was left behind which made walking in the area particularly dangerous.”

Councillor Walker said TransportNI is also to deploy engineers to the area to repair the broken streetlights.

He added: “Residents are delighted with the outcome and are grateful the representatives they met agreed to address their concerns so promptly.”

Councillor Andrews also thanked the TransportNI and council officials for their response and is pleased the main pedestrian link between Shrigley and Killyleagh will now be cleaned on a regular basis.

He added: “Residents’ fears that someone could be killed or seriously injured if the street lights are not repaired and the footpath isn’t cleaned. I hope money to allow work on the new drains will be made available.”