A LOCAL councillor has urged an urgent review of safety on the Newtownards to Portaferry road, calling for a reduced speed limit after four serious collisions, 16 casualties and one death in the past year.
UUP politician Pete Wray said it is not the first time there have been calls for the road to have a reduced speed limit, but he feels there is a mounting campaign that the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) ‘simply can’t continue to ignore’.
Mr Wray said that through information provided by the PSNI he’s aware that within the last year there has been four serious collisions with 16 casualties and one death between the Castlebawn Road and Spring Lane.
“This is just a section of the Portaferry Road, and it doesn’t include minor collisions and road accidents,” said Mr Wray.
Councillor Wray said correspondence from DFI confirmed a review into extending the 40mph limit beyond the Teal Rocks development had been completed in 2024, but the Department only committed to ‘keeping this area under review’.
“All evidence suggests that the vast majority of vehicle accidents on the Portaferry Road are due to driver error,” said Mr Wray.
“The logical response to this is to change the speed limit to reduce the likelihood of such incidents that have had a devastating impact on so many families over recent years.”
Mr Wray stressed the need for personal responsibility on the roads, recalling his comments at a recent vigil for road victims.
“I said to those gathered that there is no meeting you have to attend, appointment you have to make, date you have to go on, or party you have to go to that in any way justifies you speeding to be there on time. People must take care on our roads because life is more precious than anything.”
However, he insisted the Department also has a duty to act.
In addition to lowering the speed limit, Mr Wray wants barriers installed along dangerous stretches.
“DfI have previously indicated their reluctance to take such measures due to the impact it would have on an area of outstanding beauty. It’s my position that barriers would not have such a negative impact on the area.
“These are in place in areas across the North Coast with little impact on views of the coastline. I’m also of the opinion that with such high levels of accidents, the protection of life should take precedence over an unbroken aesthetic view.”
The councillor said he will continue to lobby for safety improvements: “I will continue to raise this with all relevant authorities and campaign for road safety measures to be introduced throughout the Portaferry Road.”
