Despite repeated lobbying and clear evidence of ongoing road safety concerns, the constituency has once again been overlooked, raising serious questions about fairness and prioritisation.

Speaking on the announcement, Carla Lockhart MP said:

“Road safety outside schools should be a basic priority. Yet once again, Upper Bann has been completely ignored in the latest round of 20mph zones. It is unacceptable and deeply disappointing.

We already lag behind other constituencies, with only about ten schools in Upper Bann having received these zones during the first two phases. Now, in this third tranche, we have been excluded entirely, despite clear and persistent concerns being raised with the Department.

I have consistently made the case for a number of schools where there are serious issues with traffic speed and volume. These include The Birches, Richmount Primary, The Cope, Derryhale Primary, and Ballyoran Primary. Each of these schools has experienced long-standing issues with road safety, and parents, governors and local residents are rightly alarmed at the lack of action.

These schools and their surrounding communities have waited long enough. They have engaged with the Department for Infrastructure in good faith and were given hope that progress would finally be made. Instead, they have once again been let down.

Every child has the right to travel to school safely. This should not depend on geography. I will be urgently challenging the Minister on this decision. The children and families of Upper Bann deserve the same protection as those in every other No part of Northern Ireland.”