Chaos returns outside Downpatrick school

Chaos returns outside Downpatrick school

12 July 2011

PRESSURE is mounting on the Roads Service to introduce a permanent one-way system at Edward Street in Downpatrick.

A temporary one-way system — which had been in operation for two months to allow work on a major resurfacing scheme to be completed — ended on Monday morning which resulted in major confusion and congestion.

Parents ping children off at Our Lady and St. Patrick Primary School were surprised to discover a two-way flow had been reintroduced.

As a result, there was major congestion outside the school for a time, with a number of cars forced to mount the pavement to get past.

Parents of children attending the school have now called for the one-way system to be reinstated and say it makes a major difference to road safety in the area.

It’s a view shared by school crossing patrolman Jim Surginor who described the scene outside the primary school on Monday morning as “chaotic.”

He continued: “There is no doubt that the traffic flows much better when the one-way system is in operation. The area appeared a lot calmer and parents found it much easier to drop off their kids.

“Everyone agrees that the one-way system was a major success and hopes it will be introduced on a permanent basis.”

A Roads Service spokeswoman said notices detailing the length of time the temporary one-way system would be in operation were published in the press, with local residents affected by the works informed by letter.

She also revealed that when the one-way system was in place, traffic movements were monitored by the Roads Service.

The spokeswoman said the Roads Service now proposes to consult shortly with residents of Edward Street, St Dillon’s Avenue, John Street and Ardmore Avenue to seek their views on a permanent one-way traffic system being introduced in Edward Street.