Call to put the brakes on roundabout traffic lights

Mrs Hale said that proposals put forward by Roads Minister Danny Kennedy last week to signalise the roundabout in the hope that it would help to ease congestion, would “not alleviate” problems faced by residents.

Members of Hillsborough Residents Association have contacted the Lagan Valley MLA to raise their concerns about the scheme after the plan was revealed in last week’s Star.

Since a new flyover was constructed opposite Ballygowan Road, traffic has used the village as a ‘rat run’ to avoid the lengthy queues at the roundabout in the morning rush hour.

“I have worked tirelessly with both the residents of Hillsborough and the Minister in trying to find a cure for the additional traffic which is coming through our village” Mrs Hale said. “Having consulted with many of the residents on the proposal it is clear that this will not alleviate the real problems faced by the residents in the area.

“Residents have a genuine worry that by putting traffic lights at the junction this will slow traffic further, meaning more drivers will seek to use other minor roads in the Hillsborough and Culcavy area in attempting to miss the long queues.”

Recent road surveys have shown that approximately 170 vehicles a day use Hillsborough as a ‘rat run’ to miss the morning traffic jams.

Under the proposal, signals would operate during the morning peak period on some of the approach roads to the roundabout to give greater priority to A1 northbound traffic, reducing tailbacks on the approach to the roundabout. However, in order to be effective, a delay to traffic exiting Hillsborough village onto the roundabout would have to be introduced.

Brian Stronge, a spokesperson for Hillsborough Residents’ Association, backed Mrs Hale in asking the Minister to rethink the traffic lights plan.

“This current proposal may help commuters travelling from Banbridge and Newry but will cause further problems and longer delays for those residents who live in the Hillsborough and Culcavy area” he said. “Those people who live in and around the village will be faced with long delays when trying to get out onto the A1 during rush hour traffic.”

He added: “The real issue for those living in the area is not the additional cars in the morning but the 500+ large lorries per day coming through the village, blocking the streets and creating danger for pedestrians and residents trying to go about their normal business.”