South and East Belfast Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Maskey welcomes Primrose Hill salt-box announcement

Published: 5 March, 2009

South Belfast Sinn Féin MLA Alex Maskey has welcomed the news that the Roads Service is to install salt-boxes in the Primrose Hill area. Alex Maskey had requested that the Roads Service install salt-boxes after representations were made to him by local residents during the recent snowfall last month.


Alex Maskey MLA said,

"I was recently contacted by some residents of Primrose Hill who had raised the issue of the traffic problems in the area during the recent spell of icy and frosty weather. Residents had reported that some streets had become extremely hazardous and that some vehicles had to be abandoned.

"They also informed me that they were unaware of any of the streets being gritted by Roads Service.

"I immediately contacted Roads Service who did grit some of the streets during a further spell of bad weather but explained that their priority was to grit main arterial routes. I therefore requested that Roads Service explore the possibility of installing salt or grit boxes within the Primrose Hill development.

"This week, I received a letter today from the Roads Service informing me that they have carried out an objective evaluation of the area to take account of various factors including traffic volumes, gradient geometry and alternative routes. The aim of this is to ensure that salt boxes are positioned at strategic locations on lightly trafficked routes and in specific positions accepted by residents.

"As a result of our request to install salt boxes in Primrose Hill, they have agreed to locate salt boxes in the vicinity of the junctions at Ballylenaghan Road and Ballylenaghan Heights. I would fully welcome this move and congratulate the Roads Service on acting so quickly in dealing with this matter".

CRÍOCH