£20k crossing will make village safer

Roads Service says it will carry out the work over the summer and that the new crossing will be in place by the start of the new school year.

Mr Devenney said the new crossing will make Newbuildings a safer place and praised Roads Service for listening to the community’s concerns.

“This is a project the people of Newbuildings have been waiting on for the past two to three years,” said Mr Devenney. “It’s been a matter of public safety because this area is used, not only by pupils going to and from the two schools, but also by local pensioners.”

He said Roads Service deserved credit for taking action, stating: “I would like to congratulate Roads Service for listening to our concerns and agreeing to carry out this important work over the summer.”

A DRD Roads Service spokeswoman said: ”As part of its traffic management programme for 2012/13 Roads Service propose to install a controlled pedestrian crossing in Newbuildings on the Duncastle Road in the vicinity of Foyle Crescent at an estimated cost of £20,000.

“The introduction of this controlled crossing will improve safety for pedestrians in the area.

“Work is programmed to take place during the summer and should be complete for the start of the new school term in September.”

Mr Devenney concluded: “The crossing will be created adjacent to Long’s Supermarket and will be of great benefit to everyone in the area.

“It is long overdue and badly needed because this road is used by pedestrians going to the shop, chemist and other facilities in the village.

“We also have two schools in the area and a community centre and people accessing these facilities are constantly using the road. The provision of this new crossing will make the road a much safer place for pedestrians.

“In the past when surveys were done the road did not meet the criteria for a crossing, but the criteria has changed and the road now qualifies for a crossing.”

Mr Devenney added: “I hope that the provision of a crossing will also help to slow the traffic on Duncastle Road, making it a safer place for elderly and young people and for those going to and from the Methodist Church nearby. It will also make a huge difference to anyone with a disability.”