Although I agree completely with the content I have to include the footnote 'this is nothing new'. Being middle-aged and born and bred in the town, traffic congestion in Ballyclare has been going on for at least 20 years.
I can remember the fanfare around the introduction of the one way system in the town centre, supposedly to alleviate the problem. It remains to be seen if it ever helped, but such is the numbers of cars and lorries through the town centre it is now irrelevant and is probably a hindrance.
Goodness knows the number of houses that have gone up since that, and the additional congestion that it has brought.
I wrote quite recently to Rev. William McCrea about the matter and to his credit he did take the issue up with Roads Service. Astonishingly the same reply came back as Mr Conn received that the by-pass at Lisnalinchly through to Rashee with not take place before at least 2015, (hinting at probably longer), and that developers will help to fund it.
Planning approval in Ballyclare and surrounding districts has run amok, housing developments have been allowed to continue without a road infrastructure to support it.
It is only within the last couple of years that the sewage system in the town and surrounding districts has been upgraded to give additional capacity. The traffic situation is absolutely chronic in the town, but probably more importantly for shoppers and residents, the air quality within the town has to be suspect with the build up of exhaust fumes as well as the safety issues, the shortage of crossings means trying to cross constantly busy streets. Try crossing Main Street mid afternoon anywhere from the main Sixmile bridge down towards the roundabout at Ballynure/Mill Roads and you'll see what I mean.
It is not only about Ballyclare - our surrounding villages are also suffering, Doagh and Burnside. Ballyrobert, Ballyeaston, have motorists at peak periods trying to weave a path on smaller country roads, in a bid to get around the congestion.
I appreciate it is not straightforward and public money is scarce, there are many competing priorities for funding, the health service is a prime example, but pressure needs to be brought to bear on this.
I note planning approval for another 300 houses up at Craighill and a Tesco supermarket being mooted at the south end of the town.
What about a pressure group being formed and getting the elected people on board - I would be there for one. What on earth will it be like in ten years time if this is not dealt with?
We have been shortchanged on this for too long, let's have some of this peace dividend in our direction, elected representatives take note!
Old Ballyclarian
(Name and address supplied)