Debate contribution: North Down Road Network: Investment
Debate contribution by Ms Connie Egan on .
- MLA
- Ms Connie Egan
- Party at the time
- Alliance Party
- Date
- 1 April 2025
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Adjournment
- Heading
- North Down Road Network: Investment
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 4877225
Read the official Assembly record
Text
Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I thank my constituency colleague Peter Martin for securing this debate on the lack of investment in the road network in North Down. He highlighted well the statistics that show that North Down gets less investment in its road network when compared with other council areas. I really hope that the Minister will speak to that in her contribution. We all get this issue coming through our constituency offices every week, and it is something that I recognise as a driver on roads in North Down. Before I go on, I offer my condolences to anyone who has been caused harm or lost a loved one as a result of an accident on our roads. Real people and lives have been lost and impacted on due to a lack of investment and action, and we must keep that in mind as we progress through the debate. The Alliance Party believes that we need radical improvement to the transport infrastructure to prepare Northern Ireland and our constituency of North Down for the future — a future that ensures the safety of pedestrians and drivers on our roads, a future of interconnection for the benefit of our citizens, culture and economy, and a future that allows us to meet our domestic targets to tackle the climate crisis. The cost of investing in North Down's road network is not just financial; as I said, it is about people's lives. We cannot brush the challenge under the rug and ignore it. The state of our roads provides clear, physical evidence for why the Department for Infrastructure and every other Department should have multi-year budgets that allow for long-term planning. As pointed out in the debate, North Down is suffering as a consequence of that not being the case. We need transformation for the safety of our communities and those who drive and use our roads. One of the best-known examples and, potentially, the road most frequently used by the public is, of course, the A2 from Bangor to Belfast. That stretch of road can be incredibly dangerous. There has been a pattern of accidents across many years, and, devastatingly, some have been fatal. In the spring of last year, the Department confirmed that a review of the road's safety would be undertaken. I understand that that is still to happen. It is imperative that safety measures be put in place and the review be taken forward. Increased traffic calming measures across our road network would be extremely beneficial to safety in our communities. I am often contacted by constituents who raise with me the need for road safety measures, such as 20 mph zones outside local schools, because they fear for the lives of their children, who cross those roads every single day. Minister, I put to you only last week the need to expand the 20 mph zones, particularly intervening in cases where children have been involved in traffic collisions. Whether it is Millisle, Donaghadee, Bangor or Holywood, concerns run right through our community. I welcome your willingness to consider it, but I will use this opportunity to urge you again to do it quickly, before any more young people, school staff or their families are hurt. By investing in our road network, we can build confidence in our communities and keep them safe. I also think that it might have an added benefit of encouraging more on-foot and active travel as a result of the lessened fear of contending with traffic. Of course, I cannot go through the debate without mentioning potholes. The statistics are stark. In 2024-25, Ards and North Down experienced a massive uptick in the number of potholes reported — 7,003. That is a 22% increase on the year before. A survey by CompareNI.com found that 85% of people in Northern Ireland think that the pothole situation is getting worse, not better. That brings me to my last point, which is the cost of inaction. Last year, during a long campaign for many of us here for the resurfacing of Castle Park Road, I was contacted by a constituent whose car had experienced damage as a result of the condition of our road network. I directed them to DFI Roads claims unit. The cost of that compensation to the public purse is substantial. Between the financial years 2019-2020 and 2023-24, DFI paid £29·6 million in compensation to those who had vehicles damaged or injury caused by our roads. In one year alone — 2023-24 — the cost was a staggering £8·2 million. That money could have been invested in making our roads better and safer instead of dealing with the consequences when they are not fit for purpose. I close with this: investment in North Down's road network is essential. We need clean, accessible transport that works for our communities, environment and economy. There are many competing demands on the Department, and I appreciate the challenge that you have, Minister, in taking them on, especially as you are new to the role. However, there are steps that we can take in the short term: better signage, better visibility and 20 mph zones would make a massive difference to the lives of those whom we serve.
871 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Awaiting analysis
This record has not been analysed yet. It is not counted in any total until it has been assessed.
Disagree with this assessment?
Classifications can be challenged. A person reviews every challenge, and any change is recorded publicly above with its reason.