Debate contribution: Traffic Chaos Affecting Villages in Lagan Valley

Debate contribution by Mr Robbie Butler on 25 June 2024.

MLA

Mr Robbie Butler

Party at the time

Ulster Unionist Party

Date

25 June 2024

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Adjournment

Heading

Traffic Chaos Affecting Villages in Lagan Valley

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4498770

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. Do I need to move this? I just get up and open the debate, yes?

Thank you. I will wait until you change the Chair, if that is OK.

Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I thank the Minister for giving his time and I thank those Members who have turned up to discuss an issue that strikes at the heart of community safety and well-being: the traffic chaos around villages, not only in Lagan Valley but right across Northern Ireland. I will speak particularly about Royal Hillsborough, Moira and Dromore. As we all know and the Minister knows, Lagan Valley is renowned for its beauty and vibrant community spirit, yet those very qualities are under threat from an escalating traffic crisis that demands our immediate attention. I begin, however, by addressing a tragedy that deeply affected us all, which was the heartbreaking loss of a one-year-old baby boy in Moira in 2023. That devastating incident is a poignant reminder of the urgent need to enhance pedestrian safety across all our villages. We are discussing villages in Lagan Valley in particular today, but, tragically, that was not an isolated case: numerous serious accidents and an alarming number of daily near misses underscore the dangerous conditions of our roads. Since 2016, I have consistently raised concerns with the Department about the volume of heavy goods vehicles travelling through Culcavy via Royal Hillsborough. The impact of those large vehicles on our narrow roads is profound. The vehicles pose significant risks to pedestrians, cyclists and other motorists, and their presence is simply incompatible with the quaint, pedestrian-friendly nature of our villages. The historic village of Moira is hampered daily by horrendous traffic queues that extend way back to the country-bound M1. Evidently, that is not what anyone wants, and I know that it is not what the Minister wants. Drivers sit for an hour or more to travel half a mile, and cars tail back onto the motorway. It simply increases driver and traffic risk, is bad for the environment and is hugely inconvenient. On-street parking is another critical issue that is worsened by the limited availability of off-street parking in Moira, Hillsborough and Dromore. The situation creates dangerous conditions where parked cars obstruct visibility and force pedestrians to navigate perilously close to moving traffic. Every day, the safety of our residents, especially that of children and the elderly, is compromised. The regrettable consequences of the draft Belfast metropolitan area plan (BMAP) have further exacerbated the challenges. The plan has led to what can only be described as uncontrolled building without the necessary infrastructure to support the additional pressures on our roads. The result is increased traffic volume and congestion that places an unsustainable strain on our already overburdened road network. We must confront the reality that, unless we find solutions to alleviate the chaos, we risk hastening the deterioration, destruction and collapse of our roads, pathways, environment and waterways. How can we continue to call Lagan Valley one of the most desirable places in which to live in Northern Ireland when our residents' safety is continually at risk? In order to address those pressing issues, we need a comprehensive and immediate strategy that includes enhanced traffic calming measures and perhaps implements speed bumps, chicanes and other traffic calming solutions to reduce vehicle speeds, particularly in residential areas and near schools; HGV restrictions that enforce stricter regulations on the movement of HGVs through village centres to mitigate the risks that they pose; improved parking solutions that develop additional off-street parking facilities to alleviate on-street parking chaos; and infrastructure development that ensures that any future development is accompanied by necessary infrastructure to support increased traffic, including better road designs and pedestrian pathways. Most importantly, perhaps, or certainly up there, is community engagement, which would involve local residents in the planning process to ensure that their voices are heard and their safety is prioritised. The Member for Lagan Valley Mr Honeyford is with me today, and he and I were at a residents' meeting in Hillsborough last week where the overriding call from residents was for community engagement. Regular safety audits of our roads and pathways should be conducted so that potential hazards can be addressed promptly. As I close, I want to honour again the memory of those whom we have lost by committing today to making our roads safer, particularly around Lagan Valley. It is not just a matter of convenience but a matter of life and death. Together we can work towards a future where the beauty of Lagan Valley is matched by the safety and well-being of its residents. I believe that we must act now to preserve the charm and appeal of our villages and ensure that Lagan Valley remains a desirable and safe place to live for generations. Once again, I thank the Minister for his attendance, and I look forward to hearing his response.

820 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 10:57 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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