Fountain Street widening plan is welcomed by local politicians

Fountain Street widening plan is welcomed by local politicians

24 August 2016

A PROPOSAL to widen Fountain Street in Downpatrick as part of a plan to help ease traffic congestion in the town centre has been welcomed by Colin McGrath MLA and councillor John Trainor.

Public consultation on the proposed £200,000 scheme begins next month, with the elected representatives keen to see other schemes advanced across the town centre.

Mr McGrath said the SDLP has been working for many years to deliver resolutions to town centre traffic management problems and is pleased work is to start in Fountain Street.

He added: “I welcome news that work on Fountain Street will take place, but this will not be acceptable as the only piece of work for Downpatrick in the short or medium term. The SDLP will work hard in the months and years ahead to demand solutions to the many traffic problems we have.”

Councillor Trainor is pleased traffic management issues in Fountain Street “will finally be addressed” and is confident the Transport NI scheme will have a positive impact on traffic flow.

He added: “This scheme must not be a stand-alone project. The Downpatrick road network has been neglected for too long and this must be the first step in a comprehensive schedule of work to address the problem of town centre traffic management.”