1,518 local claims for damage caused by potholes | Latest Newry News, Newry Sport and Newry Business for Newry City

1,518 local claims for damage caused by potholes

SDLP Assembly Member for Newry and Armagh Justin McNulty has called for an urgent injection of cash into road repairs across the North as details were released to him on the number of claims for damage to vehicles because of potholes.

Speaking to Newry Times, McNulty explained, “We all know the state of many of our rural roads and the figures released by the Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon have laid bare the extent of the damage being caused to vehicles because of sustained under-investment in our local road network. 

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“I believe it strengthens her hand when she is making the case to the Minister of Finance for additional resources.

 

 

“Over the last three years, the Department for Infrastructure has processed almost eleven thousand claims for damage to vehicles.

He continued, “It comes as no surprise to me that Newry, Mourne and Down is the area worst impacted with 1,518 claims in that period, and with 610 claims in the last financial year.

“This just shows how urgently our road network needs investment.

 

 

“I fully appreciate that there are many parts of government and public service crying out for investment and that it will be a matter of prioritisation but if we don’t invest in our roads infrastructure now, it will cost more in the long run. 

“The New Decade, New Approach agreement prioritised infrastructure investment, however, we’re not even managing to maintain our existing infrastructure, never mind building more new roads. 

“The entire Executive must rally round and support the call for more resources to improve our crumbling road network.

 

 

McNulty added, “I’m concerned that if this doesn’t happen soon, we may be seeing more than just damage to vehicles.”

 

For more of today’s top stories in Newry and beyond, click here.  

 

 

 

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Posted by on Mar 2 2020. 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

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