Concern over ‘highly dangerous’ route to new supermarket
Thursday, 22 July 2010
CONCERNS have been expressed about the number of people walking on the hard shoulder of the Harbour Highway in Larne to get to the town's new Asda supermarket.
Ulster Unionist MLA Roy Beggs said pedestrian use of the hard shoulder could be "highly dangerous" and he called on the authorities to put a proper walkway in place.
The East Antrim MLA said the new Asda store at Redlands is proving very popular with shoppers, but he was concerned at the "continuing lack of safe pedestrian linkages" between the supermarket and the town centre.
Mr Beggs said: "A busy bus system has been instigated to serve the Asda store, but for some reason this does not operate at the weekend. As a consequence, and particularly on a Saturday, many people, including those with Asda uniforms, are walking to the store along the hard shoulder on the lagoon side of the Harbour Highway.
“Clearly this is both contrary to the Highway Code and potentially highly dangerous. There is a footpath behind the crash barrier on the opposite side of the dual carriageway, but to get to the supermarket and hotel involves crossing four lanes of a busy A class road."
Mr Beggs added: "The lack of a safe pedestrian and cycle link will become more acute when the proposed and much anticipated cinema and restaurants are opened at Redlands. Therefore I have made representations to the DRD Roads Service and others to look into the feasibility of providing a walkway from Redlands to the town centre, at the edge of the lagoon as a matter of urgency."
Mr Beggs said the issue should have been addressed at the time of the planning application.
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