'We demand a footpath'

Residents told their area will soon be ‘unrecognisable’ As Buncrana gets ready for the introduction of the new parking charges, those living in one of the town’s busiest streets are demanding to know why their request for a footpath has been ignored. Residents of Nailor’s Row have been campaigning for a footpath for 15 years. The street is situated behind the Health Centre and links to the busy Cockhill Road. There is also a council yard opposite the estate which means that a large amount of vehicles and machinery are also using the street. In recent days double yellow lines have been painted just outside the entrance of each house and a car park is currently under construction opposite. One resident, who preferes to remain anonymous, believes that this has just made the situation worse. “There are going to be extra cars parking there now,” he said. “We are the only street in Buncrana with no footpath. There are quite a few children walking up and down this road. It’s very busy. Everything goes up and down here, lorries, oil tankers, trucks. They can go down at 60 miles an hour. Two or three houses have kids living in them. “Their parents can’t let them out as it’s a safety hazard. When you come out of your house you have to stop and look left and right before you cross the road.Now that there’s going to be a carpark you can’t even walk on the other side of the road”. He also says that they have been assured on numerous occasions over the past 15 years that their request has been granted and that construction of the footpath would soon be underway. He also expressed concerns over the limited parking spaces now available at the estate, even with the new car park. He said: “The nurses that work in the clinic leave here in the morning to go and visit patients and when they come back there are no spaces for them to park. Most of the vehicles that park in the spaces are owned by the council. There should be places reserved for the nurses.” However Paul Doyle from Buncrana Town Council said they have made plans for a footpath in the area and that the street has been earmarked for major redevelopment. He said: “The footpath will be in place in a matter of weeks. It’s all in connection with the road grant that will be undertaken this year. Also, in connection with the Jansu development at the shore front, major new roadworks will be undertaken to form a road from Nailor’s Row to Jansu. In a year’s time, Nailor’s Row will be unrecognisable from what it is now.”