Major road delay would mean 'blood on Government hands': Parsley

12.00.00am GMT Fri 18th Nov 2005

North Down Alliance Councillor Ian James Parsley has slammed the Government after yet another young life was lost on the Belfast-Dublin road.

Cllr Parsley, who has cross-border interests and has long called for upgrade of the road to full motorway standard, stated:

"It was quite evident in 1996 that to build such a road only to single-carriageway standard was to build a death trap. To build it without proper lighting merely compounded the disgrace. Yet another family is having to come to terms with a life lost on that road, and in time that grief will rightly turn to anger.

"The Government has proved the error of its ways by accepting, less than a decade on, that the road is totally inadequate and needs to be replaced. The appropriate standard road will, however, have come at twice the price and, far more importantly, at a cost of tens of human lives.

"I am glad that those now in control seem to have recognized the gravity of the situation. Let us now get this right. Let us waste no more time on 'inquiries' and 'surveys'. Let us fully understand that anyone responsible for short-sighted skimping on our major roads has blood on their hands.

"It is time, for the sake of road users' safety, for high-quality motorways on all our major routes, tolled if necessary as in the Republic. Anything less puts people's lives directly at risk.

"I am shocked and angry that yet another bright young life has been lost so unnecessarily, and I extend my sincerest sympathies to the family circle, including the local Mayor."

ENDS