By Ryan Sands
The presence of temporary traffic lights in Hilltown for over 13 months has left the local community “rightly angry and exhausted,” according to South Down MLA Colin McGrath. The SDLP representative made the remarks after Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins responded to an Assembly question he had tabled regarding the lights in place beside Shannon Park on the Kilkeel Road.
The traffic lights were installed following a landslip caused by heavy rain in November 2023, which resulted in a partial lane closure on the busy B27 route. In his query, Mr McGrath asked the minister to clarify how long the temporary traffic lights had been in place, how much her department had spent on them, and how much longer they would be needed.
Minister Kimmins confirmed the lights have now been in place for approximately 13 months. However, she declined to provide a cost estimate, stating: “The cost information requested is commercially sensitive, and disclosure may allow the public, in particular economic competitors, to identify commercial rates/costs for carrying out these activities, which may damage the department’s and contractor’s legitimate economic interests.” She added: “At this stage, it is not possible to indicate how long the temporary traffic signals will be required. Specialist structural and geotechnical engineers are working on a proposal for a permanent and lasting solution. Once a design solution has been developed, it will then go through an approval process before works can begin.”
In response, Mr McGrath said the continued presence of the lights at Shannon Park was “completely unacceptable” and called on the minister to take “immediate and personal responsibility for delivering a permanent fix.” He continued: “Local people have been forced to live with constant disruption for over a year, with no clarity and no end in sight. The community is rightly angry and exhausted. We now learn there is no target date for completing the works, and no openness about how much public money has been spent on what should be a temporary measure. This is not accountability.”
While acknowledging the need for specialist input, the MLA criticised the pace of progress as “completely out of step with public expectations.” He added: “The people of Hilltown and those who rely on the B27 deserve answers—and more importantly, they deserve action. The minister must take the lead here, inject urgency into the process and ensure this situation is resolved without further delay. I will continue to press for answers, for transparency and for the permanent repairs that the people of this area should have had long before now.”
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