FAMILY WELCOMES TRAFFIC MEASURES

Three-year-old Declan Greenan was critically injured outside his grandparent's home at Frazer Park but has since made a miraculous recovery - returning to his Rathfriland home last Tuesday after spending four weeks in the Royal Victoria Hospital for Sick Children in Belfast.

While that incident did not involve a speeding car, Declan's mother Gail told the Leader she is fully supportive of plans to reinforce the 30-miles per hour speed limit in the area with ramps or some other device.

"There definitely has to be something done in the village," said the mother-of-six. "I was at the primary school the other day and it just looks like the traffic going past doesn't care.

"There were lorries and everything speeding past. I'm sure some of them are bound to have heard what had happened with Declan but that hasn't stopped them."

There has been pressure on Roads Service from various quarters in recent years to address speeding issues in the Annaclone area. Now Banbridge District Council has received notification from Roads Service to say the area will be included in the next round of traffic works, although a lack of funding could stand in the way.

The letter, dated August 23, added, "Any such programme may also be subject to change as new assessments are considered."

During the area's assessment a number of different factors were considered including the proximity of St Colman's Primary School and the average speeds of vehicles currently travelling through the area.

Mrs Greenan, who said Declan will continue to undergo physiotherapy sessions, warned the scheme must take priority.

"Maybe in light of what happened they've seen that it's time for them to buck up their ideas before something happens again," she said.