Fresh calls for action at accident blackspot

THERE are renewed calls for safety measures on the Castlewellan Road outside Banbridge following the latest fatal accident.

Saturday’s collision happened just half-a-mile away from where a crash claimed the life of 27-year-old Armagh motorcyclist Gary Bernard Hamilton earlier this month.

A local councillor said he had consistently called for action for a number of years.

Ulster Unionist Glenn Barr extended his sympathy to those involved in the collision, but also called for immediate efforts to prevent further tragedy.

“Any accident on our roads is one too many, however there does seem to be a recurrence of accidents on the Castlewellan Road, some fatally,” he said.

“There are many accident hotspots on the Castlewellan Road that I have been lobbying for road safety measures to be put in place on, but every time Transport NI respond stating that this does not fall within current policies or guidelines.

“The scene of this latest fatality in particular has been a real source of concern for some time.”

Mr Barr said not all accidents were logged as there were no serious injuries.

Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Council Julie Flaherty said: “There needs to be urgent discussions with Transport NI over the number of accidents that are occurring on the same stretch of road.”

Transport NI said yesterday it would be inappropriate to comment until the conclusion of any investigation into Saturday’s accident.