Estate roads to be resurfaced

The work is set to be carried out in the Mourneview and Grey Estate areas on both roads and footpaths.

Mayor Carla Lockhard and Alderman Stephen Moutray both welcomed the news.

The Mayor said she received confirmation on Tuesday that DRD will be beginning work soon.

In a joint statement the pair said: “We are delighted that our strong lobby and efforts in this regard have come to fruition with the support of the Neighbourhood Renewal Partnership and the support of the community group.

“This area has for many years been in much need of resurfacing and the good news is that it will be resurfaced in its entirety in the coming weeks.

“The people of the Hospital Estate deserve this resurfacing because of the state of repair of the roads in the area.

“ It will most definitely enhance the aesthetics of the area and will ensure that both pedestrian and vehicle users will no longer be subjected to pot holes and the damage that they cause to vehicles.”

“Whilst we welcome this resurfacing the fight goes on particularly for the residents of the Glenfield Road and the wider Mourneview area.

“The roads remain absolutely disgraceful and are also in much need of resurfacing. Road Service must act and complete out on the resurfacing that is much needed in the rest of the Estate.”

Members of the Mourneview and Grey Estate Community Association along with Alderman Moutray and Cllr Lockhart had been lobbying the Department of Regional Development’s Road Service to resurface the roads and footways in the Hospital Estate for quite a while, they said.

They had described the roads and paths as ‘ absolutely appalling’.

The DUP councillors said this resurfacing would reduce damage to residents cars as well as improve on health and safety concerns owing to the unevenness of the roads.

They said the work would greatly improve the aesthetics of the Hospital Estate neighbourhood.

A spokesperson for the Department of Regional Development confirmed that the work has been given the nod.

“Work instruction has been given to the contractor who will now put the scheme into his programme of work,” said a spokesperson adding that the scheme is funded by the Department of Social De velopment.