Contractors begin work on ‘dangerous and impassable’ South Armagh roads

Sinn Féin councillor Terry Hearty has welcomed the introduction of a group of contractors dealing with roads into South Armagh.

The Slieve Gullion representative said now that the group was here it was crucial they remained until the job was done.

“A number of weeks ago I called for a team of contractors to be brought into the area to deal with the dangerous, and constantly worsening, state of the roads in South Armagh,” he said.

“I’m happy to see that a team has indeed now been brought in and have carried out work on the Concession Road and are also to begin work on the Newry Road.

“While this is, of course, to be welcomed, it’s crucial that this team remain in the area now until the job is done. A piecemeal, half-baked approach to road maintenance and repair is how they got in the horrendous state they’re currently in,” he insisted.

“This team needs to be dedicated to this area, fixing not only the main arterial routes but also the many country roads which homes and businesses are on, many of which are rapidly becoming impassable.

“I would also reiterate my call to Transport NI to bring in a similar team dedicated to repairing the ever increasing number of broken street lights across the area. Adequate street lighting is an issue that goes to the very heart of what a public service is supposed to provide; safety to our young people and security for our older citizens.

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“A number of these broken lights are on roads leading to schools and youth clubs, where children regularly walk in the morning and evening; others are outside the homes of elderly residents who rely on the street lighting to give them an extra sense of safety and security in their own homes,” Hearty added.

South Armagh MLA Megan Fearon echoed her party colleague’s call and said it was the duty of government to provide these services. “These are not issues that can dismissed with the stroke of a pen or ignored due to mismanaged budgets; safety and security are not privileges provided to citizens when it’s convenient, they are fundamental rights.”

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Posted by Newry Times News on Mar 21 2016. Filed under Community, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry