DUP ignoring Lagan Valley issues: Irwin

Conservative candidate for Lagan Valley, Jack Irwin, has slammed the DUP for ignoring travel problems in Lagan Valley.

Speaking after the publication of the DUP Assembly election Manifesto he said: “It is very disappointing that the DUP clearly don’t feel the traffic problems at Sprucefield are important.

“Their Manifesto for the next five year Assembly term doesn’t even mention Sprucefield.

“We were told that a road link to the old Maze site and over to Knockmore was imminent but the DUP seem to have changed their minds.”

“We are also disappointed that they are prioritising a bypass for Enniskillen but again not even mentioning Moira.

“Moira has a much bigger traffic problem than Enniskillen but perhaps it has something to do with Arlene Foster being a Fermanagh MLA.”

Mr Irwin claimed the DUP and Sinn Fein had agreed to spend over £500m over the next five years on the roads from Londonderry to Belfast and Londonderry to Aughnacloy but had no plans to spend anything in Lagan Valley.

DUP Assembly candidate, Jonathan Craig MLA has disputed Mr Irwin’s claims.

He said: “Only those with little knowledge of what is going on in the Lagan Valley constituency can make remarks like this.

“They clearly aren’t aware of the negotiations going on between Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council and TransportNI with regard to financing the Knockmore, Sprucefield link - a piece of infrastructure that will help ease congestion at Sprucefield as well as the Hillsborough and Knockmore areas.

“The Conservative candidate should be aware that not all issues a party have are put into manifesto as it would create a book that few would read.

“The Knockmore link and the Moira bypass are both issues which are key priorities for our party.”

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