Verging on an accident: alarm over dangerous roadside verges in Mid Ulster

Residents and motorists have complained about weeds growing several feet high along busy road bends, junctions, as well as unsightly entrances to villages.

DUP Councillor Clement Cuthbertson has warned that many local junctions are an accident waiting to happen.

“I have been receiving complaints right across the Dungannon area and in particular around Ballynakelly, Tamnamore and Moy”, he said. He called on the Roads Minister to make road safety a priority and ensure that enough resources were made available to local offices to tackle the problem.

In previous years, Roads Service reimbursed Dungannon and Cookstown Councils to the tune of £29,000 for cutting back grass verges on local roads. However, because of severe budget pressures last year, the former Department of Regional Development said it was no longer in a position to pay the councils for their services. Following the move, the Mid Ulster Council was forced to review its grass cutting operations in light of the cut.