Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins pressed on ‘total mess’ amid potholes and reduction in grass cutting

UUP MLA John Stewart pressed Ms Kimmins during her appearance at the Stormont Infrastructure committee over 100,000 potholes last year as well as road defects, gullies not being cleared and overgrown grass and hedges.

He said his constituents take pride in their houses, but are dismayed at the immediate streets and roads around them being a “total mess”.

Mr Stewart said he appreciated the argument for “no mow May” to help protect biodiversity, but that the situation is wider than that.

“They (my constituents) say ‘John, I’m just sick of it. It really is a total mess out here,” he said.

“Since Covid, the reduced service that has been in place for weed clearing and for grass cutting has got to the point now where it just barely happens unless whoever shouts loudest shouts loud enough to get something done.”

Responding, Ms Kimmins said the responsibility lies with other agencies as well as her department and raised issues with recruitment.

Earlier during her appearance, Ms Kimmins said last winter had been “very challenging” for her department due to a prolonged period of bad weather and a 20% increase of the highest category road defects up from previous years.

She said her roads maintenance strategy focuses on modern technology, targeted investment and higher quality maintenance, adding that once her budget is confirmed, she will increase funding for roads maintenance.

But she warned her allocation is unlikely to be enough to address “years of network deterioration”.

She told Mr Stewart: “As a citizen myself, I think it’s something we all want to see more. I think it’s also important to recognise it’s not just DFI’s responsibility.

“Everybody’s feeling the pinch in terms of the budgets they’re operating in and their staffing levels.

“We obviously have to prioritise what are the key issues, and that’s around safety, road safety and public health.

“I’m from a working class estate. We’re very proud of our community, and many of us will just go out and do some of these things ourselves to take pride in the area, as do many people across the north.

“I know that the feeling is people shouldn’t have to do that but if we can do more, it doesn’t become as much of a chore, people do feel that this is being acknowledged, and that people are working to to try and address that even within the very difficult financial situation we’re in, then that’s certainly what I’m keen to do.”