AFTER her dog was knocked down and killed and the driver drove off, Lisbellaw resident Greeta McKeown fears the next fatality on the Cloghcor Road could be a child.
Mrs. McKeown says she has to dart speeding vehicles each time she wants to get her disabled husband Cecil to and from her car outside the home the couple have shared for over 48 years.
“In all that time I have never witnessed the like of it,” Mrs. McKeown told The Impartial Reporter.
“When I stop the car on the road I would hardly have the time to get the wheelchair out of the back of the car. I have to park it onto the footpath to get him into it. 
“The speed the drivers do is lethal. My wee dog Trixie was killed one night and the driver didn’t even stop. Tractor drivers, they are nearly the worst culprits. They go down here at all hours and when there are children about that is a worry,” she said.
Mrs. McKeown’s grandchildren Ellie and Josh walk to her home from Lisbellaw Primary School, a short distance away, regularly. While there is a 30 mile per hour speed limit on this stretch of road is appears to have little impact on some drivers.
“They [drivers] fly up this road when I am walking from school,” said 10 year old Josh.
“It’s scary,” said seven year old Ellie. 
Their father Stewart fears there will be a fatality if the issue is not dealt with soon.
“There are big tractors, big tankers, doing inappropriate speeds down the road. I am concerned, very much so. It’s unbelievable, even during the day there are people flying up and down that road. They would be doing almost 60 mile per hour. 
“They have no respect for children coming and going from the school. My children walk this road. I am afraid of a child stepping off a kerb and a car coming at high speed and not able to get stopped, I am worried about a fatality,” he said. 
Another parent, Alex Lindsay says she too is concerned about her children and believes the views of residents on the Cloghcor Road “have not received much consideration.”
“As a mother whose garden overlooks the road obviously this is a very personal concern. But aside from this I find it astounding that so many young children walking to and from Lisbellaw Primary School every day of the week are unnecessarily exposed to the risks associated with excessive speed. 
“When I say excessive speed I am not talking about thirty five or forty miles per hour, what we see every day is much more extreme than that. And quite often the vehicles concerned are agricultural vehicles, which pose an even greater threat,” she said. 
Democratic Unionist Councillor Keith Elliott has pressed Transport NI on the issue and says there is now a proposal in place for the potential introduction of speed ramps along the road. 
“We are working with Road Service on a plan for speed ramps for this stretch of road. We want to speak to everybody about the issues,” he said.
He recently launched a community audit designed to gather the views of local residents.
“The concerns of residents has prompted us to take action. We cannot wait until a tragic incident takes place, we need action now. I would encourage local residents and school parents to engage with my community audit and I look forward to a positive resolution,” said Councillor Elliott.
A road safety event is to take place in Lisbellaw Parish Centre in May.