Park and ride site to be extended at Moira

The Ulster Unionist Councillor was given assurances at a meeting on Friday by the Chief Executive of Translink Chris Conway that they are to purchase a piece of land to extend the current park and ride.

He said that knowing this means there is now ‘a light at the end of the tunnel.’

“I have been in touch with the Chief Executive Chris Conway and he informed me that the construction on the park and ride extension in Moira will begin in the near future,” Mr Dillon said.

“I have complained for years about the parking problems at Moira Railway Station which is a safety hazzard.

“This news is very welcome and at long last there is now light at the end of the tunnel.”

He hoped finance would be available for the plans as he said he was assured that it would be all systems go by the end of the year.

“This will be a tremendous boost for the people using the railway station and greatly improve safety,” he said.

“This is a most dangerous situation at Station Road. Cars are parked along the road and footpath for half a mile.”

He said he would receive many complaints about the safety issues at Moira Railway Station and for years has tried to help resolve them.

“This has been an ongoing problem here for the past six years,” he said. “I said at the last election I was going to do something about it but sometimes these things can take time. Things go very slowly unfortunately, but at least we now have a commitment from the Chief Executive, himself.”

Councillor Jenny Palmer said, “I welcome the news the car parking will be addressed in a new facility provided by Translink NI. The road safety of pedestrians has been a serious concern along with the congestion on the Station Road in Moira.”

A spokesperson for Translink said, “We are in negotiations to purchase a piece of land directly adjacent to the current Park and Ride site. “Construction on the Park and Ride extension will commence subject to the completion of these negotiations, followed by successful pre-planning consultation activity, planning approvals and the availability of funding.”