Lower speed limit or risk a tragedy says father

The dad-of-five urged the police to put a 30mph limit on a straight stretch of the road outside his home at Largy Road Cottages before there is a tragedy.

The man said he witnessed traffic speeding along the road every day and said it was absolutely necessary to reduce the speed limit outside the cottages where elderly people and children live from the current 60mph.

A police officer at the meeting said they had put in place a number of speed traps on the Largy Road following complaints but had not found the speeds to be so excessive as to demand prosecutions.

He said that the introduction of a lower speed limit would be a matter for the Department of the Regional Development but said it may not be feasible on that stretch of road.

Speaking after the meeting MLA Thomas Burns said that he could understand resident's frustration. He said he had received many complaints from parents of very young children who live on the Largy Road.

"They have complained bitterly about the speeding traffic to me," he said. "I would definitely agree there should be a 40mph outside the cottages and hope that in time there will be."

A spokesperson for the Department for Regional Development said Roads Service has 'no plans to consider a speed limit' on the road.

"The Largy Road is mainly rural in nature and current policy precludes the introduction of a speed limit where there is only sporadic development along the route. In general speed limits are considered where the minimum length of development, normally on both sides of the road, is 600m" they said.