by Ronan McSherry

There has been a repeated call for adequate calming measures on the Curr Road stretch of the Omagh to Ballygawley A5 after an elderly man died after being knocked down on Monday night. However the Department of Regional Development (DRD) has stated 'traffic calming measures are not possible' on the notorious stretch of road.

The pensioner, named as Desmond Bingham from Dromore, Co. Down was struck by a Vauxhall Astra car as he walked across the road shortly after 8:30pm. He was pronounced dead at Craigavon Area Hospital. The driver of the car was treated for shock at the scene.

At a council meeting in May, West Tyrone Cllr Allan Rainey called for traffic calming measures at the location of Monday's fatal accident. Referring to the section of Roadway at McCann's Pub/Carrickeel Inn, Cllr Rainey then expressed concerns that traffic calming measures involving a series of right and left hand turning lanes and manhole covers which had been provided at the location was inappropriate to carry the increased volume of traffic. He spoke of increasing problems at the location and felt that an appropriate solution was required to resolve these problems.

Currently on a business trip in Italy, Cllr Rainey called the Ulsterherald to say that he had received news of the fatality a very short time after it happened.

"I would like to send my condolences to he bereaved family and our sympathy really does go out to them," he said. "In relation to the road itself, it is notorious. In my lifetime I can think of five deaths at that spot. In recent times there has been two fatalities and I have put down a marker with Road Service that this road is really fast."

While safety measures have been put in place the UUP Cllr feels they are inadequate. He added, "There was an introduction of a calming measure put on for a central reservation area. I was never in agreement with it because it encroached on the forecourts of the business premises there and leaves a very poor view for a pedestrian to get themselves stabilised to make the decision to cross that very wide road."

However, the Department of Regional Development (DRD) has stated, "In relation to Cllr Rainey's request it is not possible to have traffic calming measures on strategic routes such as A5 where the national speed limit applies. Traffic calming measures were not provided at this location. What was provided was Collision Remedial measures, introducing right turning lanes to deal with collisions at the significant number of accesses on this section of the road. Following Cllr Rainey's request we have reviewed the collision history at the site and are satisfied that the measures introduced satisfactorily deal with the collisions associated with turning movements into the accesses."

Cllr Rainey has stated his intention to re-visit the issue with Road Service. He said, "We would call for a site meeting there that would look to see if something could be put in place where we could avoid such another incident. I will be making representation and will be raising to this subject as soon as I return."

Police in Omagh are appealing to anyone who witnessed the collision, particularly the driver of a blue and white Scania tractor unit to contact them on 0845 600 8000.