Call for urgent traffic calming measures at Tyrone primary school

Cllr Bell has been lobbying DfI Roads extensively for action to be taken to help reduce the speed of vehicles on this busy stretch of the rural road network, used more and more often as a natural bypass of congested towns and villages linking the M1 and M2 motorways.

The local councillor said: “Due to the ever increasing volume of traffic using the Blandisher Bridge Road and the location of Ballylifford Primary School, which is the width of a footpath from the roadside, parents, teachers and others across the lough shore community have voiced their concerns that there is a tragedy waiting to happen here.

“I had successfully campaigned a few years ago, with support from, Francie Molloy MP, to help bring about the speed reduction from 40mph to 30mph at the local primary schools in Ballinderry, Ballylifford and Drummullan.

“Following on from that, I have been requesting speed cushions to be installed outside Ballylifford Primary School, however, this continues to get knocked back because of DfI policy.”

Cllr Bell added that he was calling on DfI to review this policy, with the view to ensuring the safety of our children is of utmost importance.

Ms Sheerin added: “I’ve asked the Infrastructure Minister to add Ballylifford Primary to the list of schools availing of 20mph signage, and to implement other practical speed calming measures at this point of the Ballinderry Bridge Road, but unfortunately she has maintained that it doesn’t meet the criteria at present, which I would challenge.”

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