Residents call for action on crossing

Residents in the north of the city are to meet with Roads Minister McIlveen to demand urgent action is taken to install a pedestrian crossing close to Linen Green.
Parents and children from the Linen Green housing development wait to cross a busy road on their way to Pond Park Primary School. US1447-546cd  Picture: Cliff DonaldsonParents and children from the Linen Green housing development wait to cross a busy road on their way to Pond Park Primary School. US1447-546cd  Picture: Cliff Donaldson
Parents and children from the Linen Green housing development wait to cross a busy road on their way to Pond Park Primary School. US1447-546cd Picture: Cliff Donaldson

Local people have been campaigning for a much needed crossing for over a year and had been assured it would be installed within the current financial year.

However, to date, work has not begun on the crossing.

Residents and local politicians will meet with the Roads Minister, urging her to press ahead with the work on the crossing as soon as possible.

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Sonya Grimley, who lives in Linen Green in Lisburn, walks with her three children to school every day but the treacherous journey involves crossing the busy 50mph North Feeder Road.

She has been campaigning for a crossing for some time and has said that it is needed now more than ever.

Lagan Valley MLA Paul Givan, who has invited the Roads Minister to Lisburn, said that a number of junctions needed to be improved in the Lisburn area and that progress on the provision of a pedestrian crossing on the North Feeder Road had been “frustratingly slow”.

Mr Givan explained: “I have been lobbying for improvements to be carried out at a number of key road junctions over the past year and despite some progress being made more action is needed.

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“The visit of the Roads Minister is an opportunity to highlight the action that is required.

“In Pond Park it has been frustratingly slow for proposals to be developed that will facilitate a pedestrian crossing on the North Feeder Road to facilitate a safe crossing for people, especially children, from houses in Linen Green and Thaxton village.

“The junction has already met the criteria set for Roads Service to put in place a crossing but the design stage is taking too long and understandably local residents want action which I will be pressing the Roads Minister to accelerate.

“Road improvements are also needed along the Prince William and Knockmore Road, which should have been developed in conjunction with housing developments but this has not happened.

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“I will be bringing the key stakeholders together with the Roads Minister to seek a resolution as the dangers faced by road users and pedestrians along these roads is a serious cause for public concerns because of a history of serious accidents and safety must be the first priority.

“The dispute over improving these junctions has gone on for too long and action must be taken.

“I will also be highlighting a number of other issues where areas need remedial work and I look forward to engaging with the Minister on this visit.”