Traders call time on village centre fence

Traders call time on village centre fence

20 May 2015

SOUTH Down MP Margaret Ritchie is seeking a meeting with roads officials to address traders’ concerns about a wooden hoarding and fence at Downpatrick Street in Crossgar.

Community officials and business owners are concerned about the wooden hoarding bordering a building site and the fact that drivers are blocking footpaths at this part of the village, forcing mothers with prams and wheelchair users to pass on the main road. 

Other drivers are also leaving their cars parked outside the village Post Office all day, hampering access to the facility for elderly customers in particular.

Last week, Miss Ritchie met with traders to discuss their concerns and hopes the meeting with roads officials will successfully address the wooden hoarding issue.

Traders have described the rotting hoarding as a “health and safety risk” which they would like to see replaced, arguing it does nothing to enhance the image of Crossgar.

Miss Ritchie hopes to secure a site meeting with roads officials and involve village traders and representatives from the Crossgar Community Association.

Businessman Steven Fitzsimons described the hoarding as an “eyesore” which has been a blight on this busy part of the village for the past five years. He suggested if the hoarding had been erected somewhere in Newcastle, it would not have been allowed to remain in such a poor condition for so long.

Community group chairman, Paul; Teggart, said traders welcome Miss Ritchie’s commitment to ensure their concerns and those of the business community are addressed.

Last month, community officials and traders suggested the portion of land in Downpatrick Street which is located behind the wooden hoarding and adjoining steel fencing could be redeveloped to provide a much-needed car park with drivers who park their cars in Crossgar and travel to work in Belfast by bus encouraged to use it.

Community and business representatives say the new car park would provide an opportunity for all the security fencing around the derelict site which encroaches on to a footpath, improving pedestrian access, to be removed.

Mr Teggart added: “Crossgar is a very busy village and addressing the wooden hoarding and all-day parking issue is a priority for our group and will benefit the local business community. Mothers with prams and young families should not have to walk on the main road due to a combination of this particular hoarding and inconsiderate drivers blocking the footpath.”