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BBC News
13-07-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Seapark beach: Double yellow lines to be installed at parking spot
Double yellow lines are set to be installed at a popular beachfront hotspot in an effort to stop drivers from abandoning their cars in residential beach in Holywood, County Down, attracts beachgoers hoping to enjoy the warmer weather – but local residents have complained of traffic is a car park but it can overflow during the busier days with drivers parking along the narrow Seapark Road, Seapark Lane and Seapark a letter from Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins, it was outlined the double yellow lines would be painted in "the coming weeks subject to available resources". "As a result of this, these double yellow lines should help reduce parking allowing for better traffic progression entering and leaving the A2 resulting in reduced queuing onto the A2," she said in her letter to North Down assembly and Environment Minister Andrew added that Department for Infrastructure officials would monitor the situation after the lines are installed to "determine whether further restrictions are appropriate". 'Main road is quite tight' As Northern Ireland basks in glorious sunshine, there was a mixed reaction to the news of the incoming double yellow lines from those enjoying the weather at Seapark Grimley, from west Belfast, was on her first visit to the beach and said she was lucky getting parked in the car park as another vehicle had pulled out of a space."I could see the main road though was covered in cars and it is quite tight," she also expressed sympathy for residents over the parking situation, saying: "I know if I was living there, it would be a pain." John Compston was enjoying the sunny weather with his granddaughter Atlanta said he could understand locals being "fed up" with the situation."But you would think there would be another way of putting more car parking spaces in somewhere along the way," he asked about their parking experience, Atlanta said: "It's kind of the same as it is at Helen's Bay... at the end of the day, you pay road tax and it's people coming to enjoy the beach."Double yellows are only really necessary if you're offloading." 'Significant measures needed' Alliance councillor Gillian McCollum welcomed the upcoming installation of the double yellow lines but believes "significant infrastructure measures" are needed within Seapark to accommodate the main concern was emergency vehicle access on extremely busy days."It creates a gridlock situation when the road is reduced to a single lane and cars then become backed up right up on to the A2 and that creates a situation where emergency vehicles would have no hope of accessing the area," she added that she would like to see more beachgoers using public transport."We would like people to be mindful that this is a highly residential area and these residents have been literally plagued with this problem for several years and we would like people to be considerate," she said. 'Not a silver bullet' Councillor Alan Graham, from the Democratic Unionist Party, said he understood the frustrations of those opposing the double yellow lines."I can imagine a mother and father with children and the hustle and bustle of getting them out of the car, getting the packs on them and not being able to get parked - it's very frustrating," he added that the double yellow lines were not a silver bullet to the traffic bedlam."There's a tension between increasing car parking space and taking up green grass," he said. "I believe there is a balance."I would be reasonably sympathetic to extending the car park to accommodate more people."
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Miracle escape after four HGVs and cars wreak havoc in horror M60 crash
Motorists involved in a horrific crash involving four HGVs and four cars on the M60 on Monday (July 7) miraculously escaped without serious injury, it has been confirmed. Mayhem unfolded after a car 'swerved and hit a lorry', sending it hurtling across to the other side of the carriageway and breaking through the central reservation, then causing a 'knock-on effect' with other vehicles caught up in the chaos. Emergency services were called out to the scene of an eight-vehicle collision - involving four HGVs and four cars - between between junctions 27 at the Portwood roundabout and junction one for the Stockport Pyramid just before 11.30am. READ MORE: M60 traffic LIVE updates as motorway CLOSED both ways with huge delays after eight-vehicle crash READ MORE: M60 full diversion routes as motorway to remain closed 'for some time' following eight-vehicle crash Never miss a story with the MEN's daily Catch Up newsletter - get it in your inbox by signing up here One HGV involved is said to have crossed through the central reservation and struck 'several lamp columns in the process'. Another then shed its load of beer barrels into the carriageways, with 'several ruptured fuel tanks' also leaking diesel onto the carriageway. Both carriageways were closed by emergency crews with diversions put in place. Horror footage of the aftermath showed crushed cars, a lorry cabin on its side and debris strewn across the carriageway. Join our Traffic and Travel WhatsApp group HERE It was later confirmed that despite nine people sustaining injuries, none of them were serious. Images from the M60 showed a scene of destruction, with debris strewn across both sides of the motorway, an oil spillage and beer barrels rolling away. The North West Ambulance Service North West Ambulance Service said three people were taken to hospital for further treatment, with six others assessed at the scene for minor injuries. Greater Manchester Police are yet to issue a statement on the incident, which closed the busy motorway throughout the day and evening. Traffic then backed up throughout Stockport and Tameside, with long delays through town centre streets and buses needing to be diverted to avoid the mayhem. One motorist, who was behind the crash when the chaotic scenes unfolded, told the M.E.N it started with a 'speeding car' which caused another to swerve and hit one of the lorries involved. "A car was racing on the motorway and caused another car to swerve into the HGV, which then swerved across to the other side," they said. "The lorry then went over which caused a knock on effect. We were in the car directly behind so we got out, I was on the phone to 999 and went to check everyone. "The fire brigade were there within five minutes, then ambulance and police crews and an off duty paramedic who pulled over to help with the chaos. "[Cars] swerved straight into other lanes. My husband hit my brakes and my car swerved over the two lanes. It was really really bad. But luckily no-one was seriously hurt and the 999 operator got everyone there really fast." Police, paramedics and fire crews raced to the scene and closed off the motorway in both directions as they responded to the incident. The central reservation appeared to have been obliterated, with a cab from one of the lorries involved also upside down and a number of other vehicles severely damaged. Recovery work continued late into the evening due to the amount of damage to road infrastructure and the diesel spillage on the motorway's surface. A statement issued by National Highways read: "One of the heavy goods vehicles crossed through the central reservation barrier and struck several lamp columns in the process. One of the other heavy goods vehicles shed its load of beer barrels onto the road. Additionally there are several ruptured fuel tanks from the collision which have resulted in a large amount of diesel across the carriageway in both directions. "All emergency services attended the scene including Greater Manchester Police, Manchester Fire & Rescue, North West Ambulance Service, National Highways Traffic Officers and maintenance contractors. "Luckily, all injuries were considered to be minor however, it is expected the road will remain closed in both directions for a substantial amount of time due to the amount of infrastructure damage, spillage, debris clean-up and the recovery of several substantially damaged large vehicles."
BBC News
24-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
A14 Orwell Bridge safety works causing 'chaos', say businesses
Businesses have said essential safety work on a bridge has caused "chaos" as the start of the lane closures has led to two days of "major delays" on the A14 at Highways is currently undertaking work to replace the Orwell Bridge's expansion joints, with work expected to finish mid-late Monday and earlier, there was severe delays on the A14, A12 and roads around Ipswich due to one lane being closed on the bridge, which carries container traffic using the Port of Wray, managing director of haulage firm Multi Modal Logistics, said he was dreading the next few weeks. "It's causing chaos for us," said Mr Wray, whose firm is based in Felixstowe."You've got 5,000 trucks a day coming out of the Port of Felixstowe, let alone all the industrial parks around the area."You have schedules to meet, the collection of containers at delivery points, and they're just being left down to random intervals now."I'm seeing trucks [take] over two hours to get across the bridge into Felixstowe and we've got worse to come yet because they're going to close the other lane on Wednesday night, so you'll have it both ways."My customers don't really appreciate what we have to go through at times and the frustration is building."Mr Wray, who is also vice chairman of the Road Haulage Association, said he understood the works were necessary, but feared the bridge scheme would continue to negatively affect businesses. Helen Bott, owner of Treasure Chest Books in Felixstowe, said she had seen a noticeable difference in business already."For takings we took a third of what we'd taken the previous Monday," she said."I've spoken to other shops that said exactly the same."I know of one that shut an hour early because there was no point staying open any longer."She added she "appreciated" the work needed to be done, but she questioned why National Highways had chosen the "very busy period for Felixstowe" when her shop usually saw a majority of its Highways did previously explain it had chosen the summer period due to more daylight hours and safer weather conditions for staff working on the concrete bridge. Martin Fellows, regional director of National Highways in the East of England, said the works had been planned "carefully" and in a manner that would cause "minimal disruption".He said he did recognise the "significant congestion" it had already caused, but he stressed the work was "essential"."It's never easy, but we do carefully monitor exactly how much traffic is going to result," he said."We do recognise the impact yesterday and it will continue over the weeks while the scheme takes place."What we would ask people is to be patient."We'd also ask that they stay on the A14."The reason we've installed contraflow - which means we can work on one side of the carriageway, but allow the traffic to travel on the other side of the carriageway, albeit only one lane in each direction - is to ensure that the traffic does stay on the A14 as best as possible."Mr Fellows said he expected disruption to continue this week before it potentially eases as people planned ahead and got used to the works. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
