Council To Write To Transport NI About Dundrum Pedestrian Crossing

Independent Councillor Patrick Clarke has asked the Chiefxa0Executive of Newry Mourne and Down District Council toxa0formally write to the Minister for Regional Developmentxa0Danny Kennedy about the urgent need for a pedestrianxa0crossing in Main Street Dundrum.

Councillorxa0Clarke said he would also be writing to the Regional Development Minister asking himxa0to prioritise funding for the pedestrian crossing and he added:xa0″Dundrum has been badly in urgent need of a pedestrianxa0crossing for a good number of years, and I have beenxa0continually lobbying since I was first elected back in 2011xa0and campaigning with DRD Roads Service to secure axa0pedestrian crossing along Main Street.

“The urgent need for a pedestrian crossing was previouslyxa0discussed at great length with DRD Roads Service, PSNI,xa0Council officers and Dundrum Village Association noting thexa0xa0large volumes of traffic that pass throughxa0the village during the year and at busy holiday periods.

“Many pedestrians particularly the elderly are often waitingxa0lengthy periods of time to get across the Main Street toxa0either the post office or shops. At present there is notxa0even a zebra crossing to assist pedestrians in Dundrum.

“Both the PSNI and DRD Roads Service agree that Dundrumxa0village needs a pedestrian crossing, but to date DRD Roadsxa0Service have refused due to their strict criteria guidelinesxa0regarding passing motorised traffic and pedestrian footfall and Dundrum just falls narrowly short off this.

“However DRD Roads Service have conceded that funding wasxa0also a factor and that if funding were released a pedestrianxa0xa0crossing for Dundrum would be considered.”

“Newry Mourne & Down District Council as a statutoryxa0body may now hopefully be able to exert some pressure by writingxa0directly to the Minister for Regional Development regardingxa0funding for this pedestrian crossing.”