Rural road plan will ‘increase the danger’

A meeting was held at Cargycreevy Presbyterian Church last Monday, which was attended by the minister, Lagan Valley MLA Edwin Poots, councillors and local residents, who object to the plans.

The plan is for a junction improvement which will include the widening of the Magheraknock Road to provide a turning pocket for vehicles turning right from into Cargacreevy Road. It would also improve pedestrian facilities on the A49 and sightlines from Cargacreevy Road onto the Magheraknock Road.

The scheme, which, if permitted, will take land from the Church car park, has been delayed due to objections and last Monday’s meeting was held to discuss these concerns.

Speaking Lisburn Council’s Planning Committee meeting ahead of a scheduled presentation by Roads Service, Councillor Paul Stewart said the plans would “increase the speed and increase the danger”, rather than solve any problems.

Councillors agreed to Mr Stewart’s proposal to write to the minister expressing the council’s objections and informing him that they would rather that the money for the project went towards carrying out work at the Cairn’s Crossroads and Leapogues Junction.

Mr Stewart said: “Residents don’t want this scheme. It will increase the speed and increase the danger in our opinion. We would rather improvements were made to the Cairns Crossroads/Leapogues Junction rather than wasting money on this. ”

Residents at the Cairns Crossroads/Leapogues Junction in Kinallen have long called for major safety improvements at the notorious junction.

Mr Stewart added: “There are accidents on a regular basis at Leapogues Junction. I would encourage Roads Service to carry out the scheme there, in my opinion there will be a fatality if work isn’t done.”

[email protected]