Lagan Valley MLA calls for fairer funding and better maintenance of rural roads
Robbie Butler UUP MLA for Lagan Valley has renewed his call for fairer funding and improved maintenance of rural roads, highlighting growing frustration among local communities at the deteriorating condition of key routes across Lagan Valley.
Mr Butler acknowledged the significant pressures facing the Department for Infrastructure, including the impact of increasingly severe weather conditions, the rise in heavier vehicles using rural roads, and ongoing budget constraints. However, he stressed that these challenges cannot be used as an excuse for the continued decline in road quality.
“Rural roads are the backbone of our communities,” he said. “They connect families, farms, and businesses, yet too often they are left behind when it comes to investment and maintenance.”
He argued that the money raised through rates and vehicle taxation must be clearly reflected in the quality of road repairs and long-term resurfacing programmes.
“People rightly expect to see where their money is going,” he continued. “That means better-quality repairs that last, and a structured programme of resurfacing that ensures rural roads receive their fair share not just short-term fixes that fail after a matter of months.”
Mr Butler pointed to recent successes achieved through sustained lobbying efforts, including improvements to Halfpenny Gate Road, which had previously fallen into a state of severe disrepair.
“That work shows what can be achieved when pressure is maintained and voices are heard,” he said.
He also welcomed the imminent works on Beanstown Road, noting that delays had largely been due to the scale of development in the surrounding area.
“It has taken time, but it is important that these works are now moving forward,” he added. “Continued development only increases the urgency for roads infrastructure to keep pace.”
During a recent visit to Ballyknock Road in Hillsborough, Mr Butler met with local residents who expressed deep concern about the worsening condition of the road and the increasing volume of traffic.
“Residents told me they feel disillusioned,” he said. “What was once a quiet rural road is now being used as a shortcut between Moira and the A1, bringing heavier and more frequent traffic that the road simply was not designed to handle.”
He welcomed recent intervention by the Department for Infrastructure to address a dangerous road failure on Ballyknock Road, describing it as an important first step.