Letter: An urgent review of grass cutting policy in Northern Ireland is needed due to road safety concerns
A letter from Stephen Dunne:
It is very clear that more needs to be done to keep roads safe, as the current policy of a single swathe of grass cutting twice per year, introduced in 2023, is raising significant road safety concerns.
Concerns are being raised across Northern Ireland about overgrown grass and vegetation restricting visibility at busy junctions and along key routes.
Poor sight lines create unnecessary dangers for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians in towns and rural areas right across Northern Ireland.
I have written to the Department for Infrastructure calling for urgent action to address the issue and for the infrastructure minister to review the current grass cutting and roadside maintenance policy.
Following a prolonged period of wet and mild weather, vegetation growth has accelerated significantly this year and many areas are simply not being maintained frequently enough.
A more proactive and consistent approach is needed to ensure visibility is not compromised.
Road safety must remain a top priority and I would urge the department to ensure adequate resources are in place to tackle this issue before further safety risks emerge.
Stephen Dunne, DUP MLA for North Down and member of the Infrastructure Committee