Bronte Primary could be set for 20mph limit

A 20mph speed limit is being considered outside Bronte Primary School to alleviate concerns around the speed of the traffic in the vicinity of the school.
By The Newsroom
Published 10th Feb 2016, 07:20 BST
Updated 17th Feb 2016, 06:35 BST
Local Councillor Glenn Barr was joined by Alderman Elizabeth Ingram, B.E.M. and local residents and parents including John McCallister, Independant M.L.A, Kay Davidson and Julie Andrews, who have children who attend Bronte Primary School, have raised considerable concerns, about the level of speed of vechicles approaching the school entrance and surrounding area. © Photo: Gary Gardiner. IN BL WK 0616-502.Local Councillor Glenn Barr was joined by Alderman Elizabeth Ingram, B.E.M. and local residents and parents including John McCallister, Independant M.L.A, Kay Davidson and Julie Andrews, who have children who attend Bronte Primary School, have raised considerable concerns, about the level of speed of vechicles approaching the school entrance and surrounding area. © Photo: Gary Gardiner. IN BL WK 0616-502.
Local Councillor Glenn Barr was joined by Alderman Elizabeth Ingram, B.E.M. and local residents and parents including John McCallister, Independant M.L.A, Kay Davidson and Julie Andrews, who have children who attend Bronte Primary School, have raised considerable concerns, about the level of speed of vechicles approaching the school entrance and surrounding area. © Photo: Gary Gardiner. IN BL WK 0616-502.

A meeting was held last week to discuss the concerns with local councillors, John McCallister, Independent Unionist MLA for South Down and Transport NI in attendance.

Speaking after the meeting Mr McCallister said: “I welcome the opportunity to meet with Transport NI and thank Councillor Glen Barr for setting up the meeting.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“The meeting was extremely useful and I welcome the input also provided by the PSNI.

“We discussed the potential for implementing a temporary speed restriction of 20mph to be in operation at school peak times when the flashing lights are in action.

“The issue for me arising from this was the difference in costs between what Transport NI was proposing and that of the PSNI, the figures being around £200 and around £70k - £80K respectively.

“I am at a loss to see how there can be such a disparity in costs between the two organisations’ suggestions which would achieve the same aim and I think the PSNI’s costs appear to be somewhat excessive.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I have therefore sought further information in this regard and once I have all the facts I intend to raise the matterwith both the DRD Minister, Michelle McIlveen and the Justice Minister, David Ford”.

UUP councillor Glenn Barr spoke of the long campaign to get a reduced speed limit outside the school.

He said: “We have been campaigning for a few months now.

“Scotland are introducing a 20mph speed limit outside all schools and that is something we could look at bringing in.”

Related topics:PSNI