By Lesley Walsh
A THREE year delay in installing a pedestrian crossing in Bangor is causing ‘real fears’ within the community, it has been claimed.
The Department for Infrastructure approved the crossing on the East Circular Road, at the junction with Ballymaconnell Road near St Columbanus’ College, in 2022, but work has yet to start.
Now the Mayor of Ards and North Down, Gillian McCollum, has joined with MLAs Andrew Muir and Connie Egan to press for the swift installation of the road safety measure to allay local fears.
The trio of Alliance political representatives met recently with school principal Maria Flynn and the newly installed chair of the Board of Governors, Claire McAlorum, when they had a ‘productive meeting’ on road safety.
“Following the meeting, Alliance representatives again raised the matter with the Infrastructure Minister and it has been confirmed that the project remains on the works programme for this financial year by end of March 2026, despite delays due to resource,” they said in a statement.
Mrs McCollum stated that as pupils and parents are encouraged to walk or cycle to school, ‘it is crucial that the infrastructure is there to facilitate safe journeys to school’.
“East Circular Road and the wider A2 is dangerous, and we urgently need to see action from the Department to safeguard our children,” she said.
Connie Egan added said following the meeting she has written to the Infrastructure Minister, Liz Kimmins, to urge her to act swiftly to ensure that school pupils, and the wider community, are as safe as possible walking through the local area.
“I have previously raised concerns about road safety around St Columbanus’ College with the Department for Infrastructure,” she said. “I have now reiterated the need to see the long overdue pedestrian crossing delivered.
“However, following engagement with the school, I have also urged the Infrastructure Minister to consider implementing a compulsory left turn on the Ballymaconnell Road.”
Andrew Muir MLA expressed concern after hearing of a recent traffic incident on the road.
“Alliance has been campaigning for years to see the installation of a pelican crossing here and it has been an outstanding project for some time despite me raising it repeatedly with the Department for Infrastructure.
“Whilst I am pleased these works remain on the programme for this year, this must not be yet another false dawn, we need to see this intervention delivered with urgency.”
