Residents in a rural south Armagh community has expressed concerns over the lack of lighting and gritting as long winter nights descend.
The Bog and Longfield Roads in Forkhill have been highlighted as issues that need addressing.
Sinn Féin MLA for Newry and South Armagh, Liz Kimmins, has urged the Department for Infrastructure to tackle a number of road safety concerns in and around the village of Forkhill.
Speaking after being contacted by residents in the area, Ms Kimmins said: “I have been contacted by a number of concerned residents from the Forkhill area regarding serious road safety issues around the village.
“One of the main concerns raised was around the lack of street lighting on the Bog Road in Forkhill.
“This is a very busy area, with both the Forkhill Community Centre and Peadar Ó Doirnín GAA club situated along this road, and it is essential that adequate street lighting is provided to ensure the safety of all users, particularly those walking to and from these facilities.
“I have also been contacted by the residents of the Longfield Road who expressed serious concerns regarding the longstanding issues with gritting of this road during the winter period.
“There have been numerous collisions on this stretch of road due to the lack of gritting in the past and with the winter rapidly approaching once again, local residents are contacting me to raise these concerns in the hope it will finally be addressed.
“The Infrastructure Minister has bid for £4M in extra funding for road maintenance and winter pressures, which was allocated to her by my party colleague, the Finance Minister, Conor Murphy.
“I am calling on her and the department to ensure that rural communities such as Forkhill are given adequate support to ensure that the roads are in a safe condition for all road users in Forkhill and the wider South Armagh community.”
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