Cllr Jill Truesdale says the Glassdrumman Road and Analong footway has overgrowwth and speeding issues
Councillor Jill Truesdale has expressed concerns to the PSNI and DfI regarding the stretch of road and footway from Annalong, past Mullartown House and further on the Glassdrumman Road.
She said: “I was recently contacted by a new mum and resident on the Glassdrumman Road who had a twin buggy that was unable to walk on the footway as most of it had been taken over by vegetation.
“I contacted DfI Newry section office who very quickly answered my request and said they have identified work to be carried out at this location where it is intended to recover the full width of the footway from overgrowth.
“Unfortunately, just like most works of this type they cannot predict when they will be able to achieve it in the present funding circumstances.
“They will however endeavor to complete this as soon as funding is available. While I completely understand their circumstances it is ridiculous that on the one hand we are promoting active travel and on the other hand it is impossible to do.
“Perhaps if less funding was spent on promotion and more on small works such as this we would be able to go out and walk?”
Cllr TRuesdale added that residents who live on the Glassdrumman Road had also expressed concerns around speeding as the approach into Annalong.
She said: “There is a speed indicator device as you enter Annalong, and this data informs the PCSP where the PSNI need to target if there is a continually high number of speeding instances into Annalong.
“These are not placed on the exit from a town or village and so there have been growing concerns as to cars, once past the bend at Mullartown House racing along the Glassdrumman Road.
“A request has been made for the road safety partnership to look at placing a speed van in the area.:
Councillor Truesdale who is a member of the Policing and Community Safety Partnership and Chair of the Anti Social Behaviour sub-group said: “The Northern Ireland Road Safety Strategy (NIRSS) to 2030 Annual Statistical Report, 2024 reported in 2023 NI had 71 fatalities with 73% of these fatalities being male and 51% being between the ages of 25-64, in addition there were 880 seriously injured.
“There were 83 children (aged 0 to 15) killed or seriously injured (KSIs) in road traffic collisions in 2023.
“And there were 47 people killed in collisions on rural roads. The numbers recorded in 2023 are up 57% on 2022 (30).
“Fatalities on rural roads are now 7% above the baseline figure of 44. These are cold hard statistics but behind every single fatality and injury is a devastation none of us ever want to experience.
“We all have a responsibility to drive safely and at a speed appropriate for the road conditions. As we approach the dark evenings, mornings, frost and ice it is crucial drivers are prepared. No one is invincible behind the wheel of a car and no car can offer complete protection.”
