Traffic calming call

However, given the scale of the work planned there is no indication when it will take place

A Roads Service representative told residents a scheme in the pipeline amounted to a spend of £76,000 - with the average calming scheme amounting to around £25,000.

He assured residents he would be bidding for the extra money required while local MLA Jo-Anne Dobson, who had organised the meeting, assured she would be lobbying for the project.

Residents were very clear on the need for a traffic calming scheme and claimed the speed of passing traffic was actually rattling lampshades in their homes.

The death of David Preece was also firmly in mind with Mrs Dobson stating she never again wanted to attend the funeral of a child killed in these circumstances. David was knocked down as he walked from Donaghcloney to Blackskull.

Mrs Dobson said: “Following the recent tragic death of David Preece I have been lobbied by a considerable number of constituents for an urgent meeting to take place between members of the local community and officials from the Lurgan PSNI Neighbourhood Policing Team and Roads Service.

“I have previously facilitated meetings with residents in Blackskull relating to the crossroads and other community road safety concerns and was pleased that many of them were able to attend here at such short notice alongside other local residents who share their concerns about road safety issues within their area.

“The residents were able to make their views known to the officials at the meeting and made a number of suggestions, including the temporary positioning of a PSNI speed warning sign at the crossroads as well as scheme for promoting Roads Safety Awareness through the local schools, a suggestion which I have agreed to take forward with the PSNI.”

One of the biggest issues raised was the speed of traffic coming through the village and there were calls fo police speed checks.

Sergeant Duncan McBain of the Neighbourhood Policing Team said residents needed to contact police to report vehicles speeding, even a description of the vehicle could give them something to work with.

He said Blackskull wasn’t the only area where vehicles are speeding and they would love to be everywhere.

He called on residents to let them know where and when the speeding is taking place.

He went on to say everyone had a responsibility on the roads to look out for each other.

Also of concern was the volume of traffic passing through the village, particularly lorries and goods vehicles.

It was also claimed someone was doing doughnuts in the area.