Renewed appeal on street scheme

Renewed appeal on street scheme

10 September 2025

A FRESH appeal has been issued for a so-called school streets scheme to be introduced outside a busy primary school in Downpatrick.

The Department for Infrastructure initiative is designed to temporarily close roads outside schools to vehicles during -off and pick-up times to create a safer, pedestrian-friendly zone, reducing congestion and road danger.

With children now back at their desks at the start of a new school term, South Down MLA Colin McGrath wants Edward Street — where Our Lady and St Patrick’s Primary is located — to be piloted as one of the first areas in Northern Ireland for the school streets scheme.

Newry, Mourne and Down Council has previously called for Edward Street to be selected as a pilot location for the road safety initiative which also helps improve air quality.

Mr McGrath hopes that is about to change, with Edward Street leading the way and is looking to Stormont roads minister Liz Kimmins to make it happen.

He has claimed the return of September “traffic chaos” at this part of the town illustrates that the Department for Infrastructure has failed to take the action that local families have been calling for.

“Every year when schools return, Edward Street grinds to a halt, with parents, school staff and residents all facing heavy congestion that causes stress, delays, and, most importantly, real safety concerns for children,” said Mr McGrath.

“I have been consistently raised this matter with Infrastructure Ministers and it is deeply frustrating that another school term has begun without a proper solution in place. This should have been sorted out long before now.”

Describing the school streets scheme as as a “tried and tested answer to the problem”, Mr McGrath such schemes have been rolled out successfully elsewhere, making streets outside schools safer, calmer and less congested by restricting through-traffic at key times. 

“This is exactly what is needed in Downpatrick,”  he declared, confirming he will be raising this issue directly with Ms Kimmins at the first opportunity in the Assembly. 

“Local people deserve to know when this problem will finally be resolved and I will be pressing the DfI Minister to commit to exploring a school street scheme for Edward Street. The people of Downpatrick have waited long enough and it’s time for action, not more excuses.”

It was confirmed last year that an independent consultant was to be appointed to examine potential solutions to protect children who attend Our Lady and St Patrick’s Primary.

Several thousand vehicles, including heavy lorries, use the narrow road each day and there have been calls in the past for the introduction of a one-way traffic system.

Roads officials have been asked to come up with solutions to what is being described as a “serious road safety issue” with confirmation that an independent consultant was to be appointed to examine ways of addressing the congestion — including a one-way system — confirmed at a meeting of the local authority’s Active Healthy Communities Committee.