Petition to reduce speed limit on Plantation Road, Bleary after recent road crashes

A community petition with signatures from local residents has been presented to the Department for Infrastructure in a bid to reduce the speed limit on the Plantation Road near Bleary. The petition was organised by the Alliance party after a number of collisions in the area in recent years.

However the Department for Infrastructure has scotched any plans for a speed reduction claiming that a recent review deems the existing limit as ‘appropriate’.

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Alliance Party Upper Bann MLA Eóin Tennyson said: “Residents’ voices need to be heard regarding a speed limit reduction on the Plantation Road in the vicinity of Bleary.

"A community petition with signatures from local residents regarding the issue was presented to officials from the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) prior to the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council meeting on Monday 23rd October.”

Mr Tennyson said: “Alliance conducted a road safety petition in Bleary seeking comments on a potential speed reduction on the Plantation Road following a number of collisions on the road in the vicinity of the village in recent years.

“The dozens of responses we received urging a speed reduction highlights the level of concern from local residents on this issue. DfI must listen to these concerns, begin the process for a speed limit reduction and implement robust safety measures for what is a growing residential area,” said the Alliance Party Upper Bann MLA.

“Alliance representatives will continue to press the Department for Infrastructure for progress on this important road safety issue,” he said.

A Department for Infrastructure spokesperson said: ‘The Department has reviewed the existing speed limit in line with our policy on setting local speed limits, taking into account the injury collision history and the local environment, and is content that it is appropriate for this stretch of road.

“Concerns about driver behaviour such as speeding or other inconsiderate behaviour should be directed to the PSNI who have the powers of enforcement in that regard. They can be contacted on their non-emergency 101 telephone number.”