Roads Service 'needs to be more proactive'

David Holden, of Upper Ballyboley Road, contacted the Larne Times to speak out about the “treacherous” road conditions he faced during the recent cold snap.

He added: “Our road is not on the gritting schedule and it has been almost impossible for residents to take their cars out in this weather.

“I noticed some photographs of Larne covered in snow and ice in last week’s paper, with some people being forced to abandon their cars. Believe me, that is nothing compared to the conditions we have been faced with.

“There were a number of accidents on the road during the prolonged freeze at the start of the year due to the treacherous conditions. There is a small salt pile that is occasionally topped up, but it is nowhere near enough to go around and people are always scrambling to get some for themselves.”

Mr Holden added that the situation was made even worse by the temporary traffic lights that have been erected at the junction of the Shanes Hill Road.

“The junction where our road meets Shanes Hill Road is quite steep, and when you are forced to stop at traffic lights on a slippery road, it can be next to impossible to get moving again.

“The Roads Service needs to take a more proactive approach to clearing this road and others like it, as residents are totally fed up.”

However, Mr Holden admitted that he had been “pleasantly surprised” with how quickly the Roads Service had responded to his call.

He added: “I called them on Thursday morning and asked them to come out and clear some of the snow on the road, and before midday they had done just that. I just wish they could be that efficient all the time.”