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Double yellow lines to be installed at beach parking spot

Aimee Bell
BBC News NI
BBC A narrow, empty road leads to an opening underneath a bridge. 'SLOW' is painted in capital letters on the road. There is a residential home on the right of the road and a metal fence on the left.BBC
The double yellow lines will run along Seapark Road from the junction at Seapark Lane (behind the bridge pictured), down to Seapark Mews

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 areas.

Seapark beach in Holywood, County Down, attracts beachgoers hoping to enjoy the warmer weather – but local residents have complained of traffic chaos.

There is a car park but it can overflow during the busier days with drivers parking along the narrow Seapark Road, Seapark Lane and Seapark Mews.

In 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 member and Environment Minister Andrew Muir.

Kimmins 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'

Close up image of Shannon Grimley wearing black t-shirt smiling at camera. She has black framed glasses on and long brown hair tied back in a ponytail. She is standing in front of the open sea with green hills in the far background.
Shannon Grimley enjoyed a day in the sun at Seapark beach with her child

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 beach.

Shannon 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 said.

Shannon also expressed sympathy for residents over the parking situation, saying: "I know if I was living there, it would be a pain."

John Compston and Atlanta Savage smile into the camera. John has white hair at the side of his head and is balding on top. He is wearing a light blue polo shirt. Atlanta has a black vest top on and has brown hair tied back. They have their arms around each others shoulders. They are standing in front of a green area with grass and bushes.
Grandad and granddaughter John Compston and Atlanta Savage were enjoying the sunshine at Seapark

John Compston was enjoying the sunny weather with his granddaughter Atlanta Savage.

John 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 added.

When 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'

Councillor Gillian McCollum has short brown hair and is smiling at camera. Greenery in background.
Councillor Gillian McCollum has welcomed the incoming double yellow lines

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 traffic.

Her 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 explained.

McCollum 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'

Alan Graham is wearing a checked shirt and is smiling at camera. He has white hair at the sides of his head and is balding on top. he is standing in front of a car park with some cars parked.
Councillor Alan Graham said he would back plans to extend the car park

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 said.

Graham 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."