Review of speed limit needed at busy local road

Review of speed limit needed at busy local road

5 November 2025

A LEADING government department has been urged to order a comprehensive review of the speed limit in operation at the Strangford Road in Downpatrick.

The call has been issued by South Down MLA Colin McGrath and local councillor Aurla King and comes just two months after Down High School opened its new £33m campus at this part of the town.

Two speed limits are currently in force at the busy road which as seen a significant increase in traffic since the new school — home to 1,000 students — opened.

A 40mph limit is operation at the school entrance, with this ping to 30mph just before the entrance to Downpatrick Cricket Club heading into the town where a so-called speed indicator device is located.

Previous calls for the electronic device to be moved further back have been consistently ignored by the district’s Policing and Community Safety Partnership which is responsible for the devices which can record the speed of vehicles, but not their registration numbers.

Speeding at the Strangford Road is a major concern for residents with the SDLP politicians calling for a detailed review of the current speed restriction limits.

There growing concerns over safety of the busy road which already carried a high volume of traffic before the new grammar school campus opened.

In addition to the school, there is a care home, church and sports ground, several hundred homes and Newry, Mourne and Down Council’s depot and maintenance department which is home to a fleet of bin lorries, vans, road sweepers and other vehicles.

Mr McGrath said that since the new school opened, the volume and pattern of traffic along Strangford Road has changed dramatically. 

“Parents, pupils and residents have raised understandable concerns about safety, particularly at peak times,” he said.

“Much of the route remains at 40mph, which is no longer appropriate given the new context. A review of the limit is clearly needed to protect both motorists and pedestrians.”

Mr McGrath said the Department for Infrastructure has a legislative process to follow before any change can be made, explaining this can take some time.

“With the DfI currently facing severe staffing pressures, we recognise that such a review won’t happen overnight. Nonetheless, it’s important that this work begins as soon as possible.”

Cllr King said it has already been seen how the new school has reshaped travel patterns in this part of town. 

“A lower speed limit, combined with proper signage and road markings, would go a long way in improving safety for young people walking and cycling to school,” she said, committing to continue lobbying roads officials on the issue,” she said.

Both politicians say they will keep pressing the DfI to continue to work constructively with DfI to ensure that the health and wellbeing of local people remain the top priority as Downpatrick grows and develops.