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01/09/2016
Union Slams Budget Cuts To Roads Maintenance Services
Unite the union has slammed budget cuts to roads maintenance services in Northern Ireland.
The budget has dropped from £131 million to £54m in the last three years.
Unite Regional Officer, Gareth Scott, who represents the union's roads maintenance workers in Transport NI, described the news as "deeply concerning".
Mr Scott said: "There is a cumulative impact from ongoing budget cuts meaning that our roads are degrading over time.
"There has been a dramatic increase in the number of overgrown verges and hedges growing wild. These impair sightlines and conceal road safety signs, posing a very real hazard to road users.
"We also heard how, even where there’s a budget to allow verges to be cut, workers are being instructed not to take the time to clear gully gratings afterwards. This allows a build-up of debris and leaves roads at much greater risk of localised flooding. In built-up areas, gully checks meant to happen annually are now not happening at all."
Mr Scott called on Stormont to reconsider its approach to funding roads maintenance.
(CD)
The budget has dropped from £131 million to £54m in the last three years.
Unite Regional Officer, Gareth Scott, who represents the union's roads maintenance workers in Transport NI, described the news as "deeply concerning".
Mr Scott said: "There is a cumulative impact from ongoing budget cuts meaning that our roads are degrading over time.
"There has been a dramatic increase in the number of overgrown verges and hedges growing wild. These impair sightlines and conceal road safety signs, posing a very real hazard to road users.
"We also heard how, even where there’s a budget to allow verges to be cut, workers are being instructed not to take the time to clear gully gratings afterwards. This allows a build-up of debris and leaves roads at much greater risk of localised flooding. In built-up areas, gully checks meant to happen annually are now not happening at all."
Mr Scott called on Stormont to reconsider its approach to funding roads maintenance.
(CD)
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:A largely dry evening and night. It will be mostly cloudy, but a few clear spells are possible in the east during the evening. Some patchy rain across the west shortly before dawn. Minimum temperature 5 °C.
