Multi-million infrastructure investment (including repairing potholes) welcomed by SDLP MLA

The Upper Bann MLA praised her party colleague Department for Infrastructure Minister Nicola Mallon who announced the funding on Wednesday.

It includes an ‘ambitious programme of investment’ including a £20m fund for blue/green infrastructure as well as funding for road safety measures, street lights and potholes.

Her announcements include the creation of a transformation pot with support for greenways and £30m for low emission buses, crucial investment in flagship projects and strategic roads across the north, a rural roads pot, and 100 schools to benefit from 20mph speed limits scheme.

Mrs Kelly called on the Executive to provide resources to secure public transport provision and the security of clean drinking water.

Mrs Kelly said it was ‘no secret’ the financial position facing the Department adding that Nichola inherited ‘severe financial pressures’.

“But the pressures in her resource budget have not gone away. It is important that the remaining resource for Transport held centrally at the Executive are now allocated to the Department for Infrastructure as promised to meet public transport needs. At this very difficult time it is important that we support businesses and that we also protect critical public services. That means financially supporting our public transport network and water system.

“So the test for the rest of the Executive is - will they fund public transport, will the economic recovery plan ensure that we have safe, clean drinking water and a sewage system fit for the 21st century and that allows capital investment by the private sector and others.”

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper whenever you are able to do so.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper when you can safely.

You can also enjoy unlimited access to the best news from across Northern Ireland and the UK by subscribing to newsletter.co.uk

With a digital subscription, you can read more than five articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Thank you