Kilclief Residents Association has called on local politicians to rally to its support after Roads Service back-tracked on previous commitments to deliver a 30-mile and hour zone for the village.
Chairperson Maurice Denvir said: “I have contacted all local political groups for support on this matter and ensure that Road Service does not refute its agreement last year to deliver a 30-mile an hour zone for the village. This is long overdue and the village has been seeking this for over 15 years. Much smaller villages in this area have 30 mile and hour zones.”
Independent Newry Mourne and Down District Councillor Cadogan Enright backed Maurice and said: “I was present at on-site meetings in Kilclief last spring. These meetings involved the Road Service and the residents association and I was in regular communication with the engineer concerned who was to bring forward plans for consultation with the PSNI and Council, both of whom have been awaiting the proposals. Maurice is entirely correct and there was an unequivocal promise to deliver a 30-mile an hour zone for the village”.
South Down MLA Chris Hazzard said: “Residents in the village are understandably frustrated by the failure of Transport NI to designate Kilclief a 30 mph zone.
“The new regulations are clear and Kilcief obviously qualifies. The old rules ended in 2010 and 20 houses over 600 meters is all that is needed. Kilcief obviously meets these criteria. The new regulations would even facilitate villages smaller than Kilcief.
“This limit can be lowered to 400 metres when the level of development density over this shorter length exceeds the 20 or more houses criterion and, in exceptional circumstances, to 300 metres.”
“Transport NI appears to have reneged on commitments given to residents. I have made Minister McIlveen aware of this matter and will be in touch with Kilclief residents with her department’s response.”
