Newtownabbey “well down pecking order” in Roads Maintenance Expenditure - Wilson
South Antrim Ulster Unionist MLA, Jim Wilson says he is astounded by the reduction in funds allocated to the upkeep of Newtownabbey’s roads.
“Figures published showing annual expenditure over a five year period since 2001 show that 2005-06 has seen the lowest investment with only £2.548 million being directed towards road maintenance compared to a high of £3.676 the previous year.
“Spending tops £3million in each year except last year,” says Mr Wilson. “In fact Newtownabbey shares second lowest place with Carrickfergus - only Moyle council area has been allocated less funds.
“The year 2003 -04 saw the highest overall spend across the province with a total of £129 million spent on roads maintenance compared with almost £121 million last year. This represents a 6% decrease in overall spending, however Newtownabbey has suffered a 27% decrease in the same period.
The other council area in the South Antrim constituency, namely Antrim, I am pleased to say has had a better year in 2005-06, but there still is a 15% reduction in funds allocated compared to 2003-04.
“This expenditure includes all maintenance costs, including resurfacing, reconstruction, surface dressing, patching, grass cutting, gully emptying, traffic management, street lighting and car park maintenance costs.
“With some of our roads in a bad state of disrepair - particularly those in rural areas where surface dressing exercises in the hot summer months were nothing short of disastrous - it is clear that these funds are simply not enough if we want our roads to be of a standard that can cope with 21st century traffic levels,” said Mr Wilson.