Roads officials urged to extend 30mph limit at school entrance

Roads officials urged to extend 30mph limit at school entrance

8 October 2025

ROADS officials have been asked to extend the 30mph speed limit at a road in Downpatrick which has experienced a significant traffic increase.

The opening of Down High School’s new campus – which is home to 1,000 students – 

has resulted in hundreds more vehicles using the Strangford Road.

The entrance to the school is located in a 40mph zone, but the 30mph zone starts close to the entrance to Downpatrick Cricket Club, where a speed indicator device is located.

Previous calls for the device to be moved further back 

along the road were ignored by the district’s Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP).

The PCSP is responsible for the devices which can record the speed of vehicles, but not their registration numbers.

Speeding is a major concern for residents in the area and this week South Down MLA Cathy Mason and Downpatrick councillor Philip Campbell, have called for the 30mph zone to be extended immediately.

They say they are aware of growing concerns over safety of the busy road which already carried a high volume of traffic before the new grammar school campus opened.

In addition to the school, there is a care home, church and sports ground, several hundred homes and Newry, Mourne and Down Council’s depot and maintenance department ,which is home to a fleet of bin lorries, vans, road sweepers and other vehicles.

Mrs Mason the Strangford Road was “extremely busy”.

She said in addition to being used by pedestrians and cyclists, there is a high volume of traffic including commuters, farm vehicles and school transport. 

“People have repeatedly raised their concerns about speeding with my office,” she said.

"Extending the 30mph zone would make the road safer for everyone who uses it, our residents and visitors alike.”

Cllr Campbell, who is the local authority’s current chairman, said he was committed to ensuring road safety. 

"Slowing road traffic on this stretch is part of that commitment, in tandem with reducing the likelihood of serious accidents and giving peace of mind to our local community,” he remarked.