'Car park could attract paedophiles'

Locals say the Curragh Road/Chapel Road planning application, put forward by the Roads Service, is unsuitable because it is located too closely to the entrances of two schools and a nursery. The group of residents, who have raised a number of concerns about the new facility, say added traffic to the junction could also cause road safety problems.

"It's a complete waste of money," says Pat O'Hagan, one of the residents who has put forward an objection to the site, "Dungiven does not need a car park with 120 spaces, and it certainly does not need one situated beside a number of schools.

"It is just not right that a car park of that size, unsupervised, is situated in a prime school centred location where children are entering and exiting the area five days a week. Without security, this could attract the wrong sort of people to the area. This is a genuine fear expressed among parents."

Mr O'Hagan, who has obtained a copy of the plans of proposed site, added that serious consultation was needed between the Road Service and the community.

He continued: "Surely the Road Service should have had some consultation with the local community on such a big proposal? The junction of Chapel Road and Curragh Road already experiences a large volume of traffic that can become troublesome at times and if that is added to with extra cars and buses, it's going to be impossible to pass through and could become dangerous."

The Chapel Road resident also questioning whether the town needs the larger facility at all.

"We are also objecting to this proposal as we feel that it's just not needed in the town anymore. It would be a waste of money as the majority of the traffic passing through the town is on the main Derry to Belfast Road, when the bypass is built that traffic will be gone."

Dungiven SDLP Councillor Michael Coyle says he has been approached by a number of concerned residents in the area about the proposals.

"These are genuine concerns among people in the area," says the Dungiven councillor, "My main concern would be of road safety but because there has been no consultation between the department and the community there are a lot of unanswered fears.

"The issue has yet to come before council and until it does it would be difficult to comment on the plans any further. I have been approached by three people on the issue who have raised their worries."

"Until Road Service consult with the public these plans should be considered as proposals only."

A spokesperson for the DRD confirmed that a number of objections have been received by the Roads Service on the proposed park and ride. They added that the aim of the new facility was to improve traffic flow and ease parking problems in the area.

"Roads Service received a number of requests from community representatives and local councillors in 2007 and Limavady Borough Council in 2008 for the provision of a Park and Ride car park to relieve parking problems. "

"A site became available adjacent to the existing bus stops, and Roads Service has applied for planning permission for the proposed scheme."

"The proposal will regularise parking in the vicinity of the bus stops. This should help traffic flow in the area, though it is recognised that there will be some increase in traffic in the immediate vicinity of the car park. "

The spokesperson added that the DRD recognised that the need for the bus stop and parking facility was "short term".

"There is a short term need for this facility and it will be there to four years before the by-pass would be completed (subject to finance being available). Options as to what park and ride facilities are provided as part of the by-pass scheme are under consideration at present. One possible option would be to continue to operate the Goldliner as at present."

"Roads Service is aware that there has been a number of objections to the planning permission and is in the process of considering these objections. A decision will be made shortly whether or in what form the proposal should be progressed."