Council is to investigate the possibility of dedicating land as a safe and supervised venue for e-scooters and scramblers in the borough.
It comes after a request by Sinn Fein Councillor Jude Mallon, who raised the matter at a meeting of ABC Council’s governance committee.
The use of such vehicles – often is residential areas – has long been considered a major safety concern with councillors and members of the public warning about the potential for serious injury or loss of life.
Now Councillor Mallon has asked that council explore if it owns any land that could be used as a “controlled and supervised area” for e-scramblers and e-scooters.
He said: “Recent engagement with the PSNI neighbourhood team highlighted ongoing challenges about the unsafe and illegal use of these vehicles in the Craigavon area.
“They advised that a designated safe space could help reduce the misuse of these e-scramblers and e-scooters across residential areas, and that there are trained community instructors who could support such a facility.”
Councillor Mallon asked that “officers begin an initial assessment about whether any suitable council-owned exists and liaise directly with community police to ensure the assessment reflects policing needs, safety considerations and community impacts”.
Party colleague, Councillor Liam Mallon, who chairs the committee, reinforced the need.
“I think it’s not only Craigavon’s tortured by e scrambers and e-scooters,” he remarked. “I know Lurgan certainly has its share of those as well.”
DUP Councillor Peter Haire specifically raised a question over the ownership of land on the Tandragee Road at Lurgan.
“They’re in there scrambling all the time,” he said. “I’m looking at a health and safety issue here. They’re going in there, somebody’s going to get hurt. Do we own that? Or not own it?”
Jonathan Hayes, director of environmental services and sustainability, said he would be happy to look at the issues raised.
“I’m content to take the lead and work with colleagues in other departments to look at options,” he said, while confirming ownership of the area of land on the Tandragee Road in Lurgan.
Mr Hayes promised to “report back to committee in due course”.
