JAMMED IN

TUV representative, David Tweed raised the issue at last Monday night’s meeting of Ballymena Borough Council as members ratified the latest network report from Roads Service.

He told the meeting that the problem would only be exacerbated when remedial work begins on the Crebily Road flyover in the near future and he appealed to Roads Service to carry out their essential works as quickly as possible.

“Things are bad enough at the moment for people living up around Ballykeel. The work on the bridge will be another annoyance they could do without,” he said.

Cllr. Tweed said he had been inundated with complaints from Ballykeel residents who said that they were ‘at the end of their tether’ with the hold-ups associated with the Crebilly Road junction.

“Basically, the people using Tesco have only one way out and for Ballykeel people trying to use their only fast route to the town this means serious delays at times. At some periods you could be waiting 20 minutes to get out and go on with your journey. Some take the longer option of driving over the Crebilly Flyover and getting to the town via Bog Road and Broughshane - but that’s now going to be ruled out for a while.”

His call for a letter from Council to Tesco and Roads Service seeking their views on solutions to the problem was endorsed by Ballymena South councillor, Martin Clarke who recalled that plans had been in the offing for new exit roads and a major one-storey extension to Tesco’s Car Park.

“Obviously in the current economic climate that seems to have been button-holed but I still think it is worthwhile for us to find out what can possibly be done to help with this issue. I fully agree with Cllr. Tweed that this has a very negative impact on the people most affected up at and around Ballykeel,” he added.

Mrs. Anne Donaghy, Chief Executive undertook to write to Tesco and Roads Service on the matters raised.