BRYANSFORD would benefit from having a pedestrian crossing installed, a councillor said this week.
Jill Truesdale said the volume of traffic going through the village has increased and she is also concerned about the speed some drivers are travelling at.
She pointed that there are also new dwellings and so more people now living in the area.
Another factor that she believes needs to be taken into account is the number of visitors using the back entrance to Tollymore Forest Park.
“Due to the long, straight nature of the road, it does see its fair share of speeding as it’s part of a ‘loop’ used by boy/girl racers,” said Cllr Truesdale.
“PSNI have worked incredibly hard through #operationlifesaver to dampen as much of this behaviour as possible and have had considerable success and it is hoped these initiatives will instil in ASB (antisocial behaviour) drivers that they are risking their own lives as well as the lives of others.
“The village also sees a rise in visitor numbers travelling into the mountains at Slievenaman and Moneyscalp, as well as Tollymore via the back entrance.
“This, in turn, leads to severe parking issues.
“A pedestrian crossing would make crossing this piece of road a lot easier, as well as the added bonus of strictly prohibiting parking within the zigzag lines, ensuring better visibility for drivers and pedestrians.
“Factoring this into the imminent resurfacing works, according to DfI, on the Bryansford to Hilltown road would be a sensible proposal and much welcomed by residents and visitors.”
Cllr Truesdale is also calling for a mobile speed indicator device to be deployed on this stretch of the local road.
The devices inform drivers of the speed they are travelling at as they enter towns and villages and remind them to slow down if they are going too fast.
Highlighting the value of the devices, she added: “Not only do they collect data to make the case for further resources, they also remind drivers to check their speed and pay attention to the road.
“Everyone is well aware speed kills, but driver inattentiveness and distraction can have lifechanging consequences in a spilt second.
“The drive along the Hilltown Road from Bryansford is one of the most stunning locations through Mourne.
“But because it is a natural formation it doesn’t automatically lend itself to vehicles and so we must take account of driver safety, especially as it’s also a popular cycling route.
“We want people to come and see the beauty of Mourne, but we would all like people to do so safety and return home without any incidents or accidents,” the Alliance councillor concluded.
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