Rural roads to bear brunt of cuts

Concerns were expressed about roads maintenance during a recent council meeting, where Transport NI’s Northern Division Regional Manager Deirdre Mackle gave councillors an update on ongoing road improvements in the area. Ms Mackle informed councillors that the budget for routine maintenance had been slashed, almost in half.

Sinn Féín Councillor Kieran Mulholland, referring to a specific complaint about a pothole that was turned down for repair, said: People in rural areas are being discriminated against because these dangerous, deep potholes aren’t being repaired.”

Responding, Ms Mackle said: “Unfortunately, there has been a reduction in what has been made available to us, and it is quite clear that there is a backlog in maintenance that is building up. The finances are not just there for us to do what I would like to do. We look primarily at the busiest roads. In addition to that, be assured that where we have high priority defects anywhere in the network, including rural roads, they will be treated.”