Full audit of 'dirty and dangerous' road signage proposed

The motion, put forward by SDLP Councillor Shauna Cusack at a Full Council Meeting last week, proposed contacting the Minister for Infrastructure, John O’Dowd, to request an “immediate full survey and audit of the conditions of their directional and safety signage, with a view to implementing immediate improvements.”

Cllr. Cusack said she had been contacted by “numerous” constituents about the issues, including driving instructors who “know our area like the back of their hands.” 

Cllr Cusack added: “They’ve expressed extreme frustration regarding serious shortcomings in our city and districts’ signage and road safety measures.”

“The Department for Infrastructure is responsible for the condition of safety signage and structures, which have been neglected for these past years.”

People Before Profit Councillor Shaun Harkin said the district’s roads had been “deteriorating for many years” in terms of signage and potholes, but Department for Infrastructure officials have said there’s no budget for repairs.

Councillor Harkin said that if Stormont “isn’t prepared to fund this we should be looking at the Shared Island Fund again, because there is a growing difference between the roads in the South and the roads in the North.”

DUP Alderman Julie Middelton said road safety was “an issue which should unite all of us in the chamber”.