A city councillor has hit out at a “massive blunder” after a road safety sign linked to a housing development ended up in the wrong place.
The ‘Keep Clear’ sign was erected as part of ongoing work in the building of new homes in the Saintfield Road area of Lisburn.
Part of the Saintfield Road had been closed off to allow for a re-alignment scheme for a planned housing development by Ballygood Estates.
Read more: Saintfield Road in Lisburn closed due to collision - latest updates.
It is understood that the ‘Keep Clear’ sign had been put on the road facing the wrong way around.
Speaking in Council, Downshire West DUP councillor Uel Mackin said: “It was brought to my attention, with the road works on the Saintfield Road, seemingly completed, within half an hour messages were flying, that the road markings were in the wrong place.
“There is no construction of the new housing development to take place until the road has been signed off. Where does this leave us now?
“This is a massive blunder at the roundabout, there will be repercussions.”
Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council’s head of planning, Conor Hughes stated that the local authority had “rejected the planning (2019), but a planning appeal allowed it” before stating that he would “look in to it”.
The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) has confirmed that the road safety markings have not yet been signed off.
A DfI spokesperson said: “The works on Saintfield Road, Lisburn are being undertaken by a developer as part of a new housing scheme.
“An engineer for the developer has recently informed the department that a ‘Keep Clear’ road marking was laid in the wrong place and we are currently in discussions to have it removed and replaced in the correct position.
“Other road lining work by the developer is ongoing, but is subject to weather conditions.
“No road markings have yet been signed off by the department.”
Ballygood Estates was required to make the re-alignment scheme in order to construct the new Plantation View development with 27 new build homes.
It said: “Unfortunately, we cannot comment directly as this falls under the contractor’s responsibility.”
Contractor, Campbell Civils responded,”direct your enquiry to the surfacing and white lining contractor”.
Gibson Brothers, surfacing and white lining manager, Eugene McKenna explained: “This was a job that was sub-contracted out to another local company.
“The error was quickly identified as a mix up with outline drawings for the road markings.
“A new ‘Keep Clear’ marking has now been made on the road.
“We expect to have the incorrect road marking removed in the next coming days, weather pending.
“This should not affect any traffic and will be carried out during the night at minimal disruption.”
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