A footpath along a busy road in Derry is a “death trap” for children, according to a local councillor.
Cllr Tony Hassan on the Culmore footpath which he claims is a “death trap.”
Cllr Hassan, Sinn Fein representative for the area, said it was only a matter of time before someone was killed or seriously injured at Culmore on the main Derry to Moville road, one of the major thoroughfares out of the city.
He said he had “major concerns” about the footpath and roadway which run from the only shopping centre and pub in the area, to a large housing development at Ardnalee. a shopping centre to a large housing development at Ardanlee.
He said he was “very concerned” as the pathway was used by many children to go to and from school as well as getting “to the shops.”
Cllr Hasson said: “The area between the Magnet Bar and the entrance of Ardanlee needs to be assessed by Road Service. It is my opinion that this footpath is a death trap for pedestrians. I am very concerned about the many school children who walk the footpath while going to school and those who frequent the local shop on a daily basis.”
Cllr Hassan added while he welcomed work carried out over over recent years, “more needs to be done.”
He added: “Some kind of safety barrier or barriers should be introduced on this stretch of footpath. The heavy traffic on the Culmore Road is there to be seen and makes this road very dangerous.”
He concluded: “I am calling DRD Road Service to look at this situation and assess it as a matter of urgency and, hopefully, put in place a barrier that will make the area safer for people who live there.”
