Protest announced against road dangers in Newry
“Kill Your Speed – Not A Child” – That’s the message from local Republican party Saoradh after they announced that they will be taking to the streets to protest at a notoriously dangerous stretch of road in Newry.
Speaking ahead of the protest Saoradh An Iúir activist, and local Derrybeg community leader, Anthony Coyle explained, “Residents of the Derrybeg estate, Parkhead and Carnagat areas are at their wits end following several near misses at the Camlough Road traffic lights.
“Our party has been inundated with complaints from numerous residents that cars are continuously speeding through the lights when they are red, putting pedestrians crossing the road at great risk.
“Myself and fellow Saoradh activists, along with community workers, have been campaigning tirelessly for some time to have road safety measures introduced.
“Three years ago we received a commitment that the safety upgrades would be installed after our activists met with the Roads Service and raised our concerns,” he explained.
“Three years to the day of this protest and these communities are still waiting. The longer we wait for these safety measures to be introduced the more chance there is of someone being seriously injured or worse.
Anthony continued, “Several people, including children, have lost their lives on this road over the years. The last thing we want is for another family to suffer unimaginable grief as a result of a road tragedy at this location.
“We have explored every avenue and we even went as far as erecting our own sinage. These communities have been left with no other option but to take to the streets in protest.
“We hope that this visual expression of community frustration will put more pressure on the relevant bodies to ensure that the commitment they gave us three years ago to make this road safer is followed through.
“We also hope the presence of these communities united in protest will force motorists to take note and slow down at these traffic lights.
Coyle added, “Not only do we urge residents of Derrybeg, Carnagat and Parkhead to join us in protest action, but we also extend an invite to concerned residents from other communities to take to the streets with us. The protest will commence on Saturday 3rd February at 2pm at the Camlough Road bus shelters.”
Short URL: https://newrytimes.com/?p=63093
Posted by Newry Times News
on Jan 26 2018. Filed under Community, Politics, What's On.
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