Public realm nears completion but townsfolk not impressed

WITH the Public Realm Works almost completed, the 'MAIL' took to the streets of Lurgan to hear people's views on the controversial project.

Overall, there was little love lost for the scheme aimed at revitalising the look of the town.

Hubert Watson said: “It has been a total waste of public money. They would have been safer giving the money to shopkeepers to help pay their rates. Something needs to be done to regenerate shopping in Lurgan rather than this.”

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Maralyn Rodgers said: "I can’t understand why they did half of this. What is the need for these huge footpaths. There’s hardly anybody here to walk on them. I think the whole thing is ridiculous. Especially the parking. It was bad enough before, but it is even worse now."

Lucy Duffy said: “The roadworks have done the shops an awful lot of damage. You would almost think they want to close Lurgan off."

Dwyer French said: “It’s a shambolic effort to upgrade the town. They have done more damage to the shop owners in the town centre. I have seen shops with their fronts blocked off. That could hardly be good for business.”

Angela Philpott said: “What on earth are they doing? The road is a shambles. There are parts of it that there could never possibly be two lanes on. It looks to me that it’s an accident waiting to happen. It doesn’t even look any better."

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Dennis McConville said: “To tell you the truth, it hasn’t bothered me that much. However, they certainly seem to be taking their time with it and I hope it finishes soon. I’m sure everybody is the same.”

Ursula Hughes said: “It is a bit of a nuisance. There’s actually a page on Facebook you can join that makes fun of the whole thing. I hope it all gets wrapped up soon.”

Rose Headley said: “I find the footpaths are quite dangerous for disabled people. They have made a hash of it. Anyone can see that.”

One man said: “I thought the footpaths were wide enough as they were. I cannot understand it. There is only one lane for traffic. The thing has caused absolute chaos in the town.”

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Another said: “I honestly think it is a waste of time. It has made the town worse. On Friday afternoons, the congestion is just shocking. It is a complete waste of tax payers’ money. I mean, there are more urgent things in the town that need sorting out. Take the railway crossings at William Street, Lake Street and the Antrim Road. Its a problem everybody in the town wants sorted out. They would have been better spending the money on that."