Short Strand Roads 'To Be Safer'

There has been a warm welcome for proposed measures to make roads safer in a busy part of east Belfast.

Sinn Fein Pottinger representative Niall Ó Donnghaile has welcomed news from Stormont Roads Minister Conor Murphy and party colleague that a number of measures have been taken as a result of his site visit to Belfast's Short Strand earlier this year.

Mr Murphy (pictured) joined Niall and other community representatives Bernie McCrory of the Short Strand Community Forum and Patrick Devlin, Chair, St Matthews Housing Association on a site visit to the Short Strand area to discuss a number of issues.

These included traffic calming measures in parts of the nationalist district and the urgent need for a pedestrian crossing at the bottom of the Newtonards Road and the future use of the Translink bus depot.

Niall Ó Donnghaile said: "I have received information from the Minister indicating that our request for a pedestrian crossing at the bottom of the Newtonards Road is to be added to the departments priority list for implementation which is good news for the community.

"For many people, particularly elderly residents, who have to cross two very difficult junctions to access the doctors surgery at the City East building, this work cant happen soon enough and while acknowledging budget constraints on DRD, we would like to see this work completed urgently before someone is seriously injured," he said.

He also noted that Minister Murphy confirmed that he hopes to see traffic calming measures implemented in both Bryson and Madrid Streets early in the next financial year: "I have no doubt residents, especially those with young families, will be glad to see this work completed," continued Mr Ó Donnghaile.

"Another key issue of concern from residents and one that we raised with the Minister and officials from his Department, is the vast amount of heavy goods vehicles using the Mountpottinger Road.

He said: "The Minister has instructed Roads Service to meet with Translink to explore taking this issue forward in a way that won't disrupt the current bus service."

(BMcC/GK)