A local councillor has issued a stark warning following a serious road traffic collision on the Newtownhamilton Road at Ballymacnab on Sunday night, calling for urgent safety measures before tragedy strikes.
SDLP Councillor Thomas O’Hanlon said the stretch of road — which he has long described as “an accident black spot” and an “accident waiting to happen” — poses a growing danger to residents and road users alike.
He said: “The Newtownhamilton Road is a busy trunk route, and the Department for Infrastructure must take seriously the concerns of local communities who fear lives will be lost if action isn’t taken.”
Councillor O’Hanlon said the area between Ashview Housing Development, St Patrick’s Church and the local GAA grounds has seen “significant growth in recent years” and now attracts hundreds of people every week.
“Despite that,” he continued, “the road remains dangerously under-equipped: no footpaths, no street lighting, and no effective speed reduction measures.”
He added that he had previously raised the issue with former Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd MLA and departmental officials, urging intervention, but said those calls “were rejected”.
“Sunday night’s incident, which thankfully did not result in a fatality, has left the community shaken and fearful,” he said. “Residents are terrified of cars crashing into their homes, of loved ones being struck while crossing the road, and of the daily risk posed simply by entering or exiting their driveways.”
Concluding, Councillor O’Hanlon said the situation represented “a failure of infrastructure and a failure of responsibility”.
“The Department must act now,” he said. “The people of Ballymacnab deserve better. They deserve to feel safe in their own community. They cannot wait for another near miss — and they certainly cannot wait for a fatality.”
