Overgrown weeds prompt safety concerns on key tourist route

Councillors have called on roads chiefs to address a “pedestrian safety issue” on one of the borough’s most scenic routes.

Overgrown vegetation on the Dunluce Road between Portrush and Bushmills was raised by two elected members when DfI officials came to Causeway Coast and Glens Council chamber for their annual address.

“Vegetation has narrowed that footpath to the extent where visitors and locals are having to step out onto the road,” said the DUP’s Sharon McKillop

“There is a pedestrian safety issue there.”

The Alliance Party’s Richard Brown Stewart pointed out that the road was “one of our most important tourist corridors” that attracts thousands of visitors every year.

“Sometimes it’s the first impression that they have of our wonderful coastline, but the footpaths are in a very poor state and the weeds are badly overgrown

“And the general appearance of sections of the route is very poor.”

Ald. Brown Stewart went on to question whether “sufficient priority” was being given to Dunluce road considering its status as “an internationally recognised tourist route”.

In response, Divisional Roads Manager Alan Keys said his team would “get a look” and come back to the council.

However, he added: “In term of prioritisation we try to get to the areas of greatest need for maintenance of footways. Unfortunately we don’t necessarily go by what an area looks like.”

But he went on to point out that, under the borough’s Growth Deal, a project was underway to create a greenway following the Dunluce Road between Portrush and Bushmills

“There may be something better coming along,” he said.