South Belfast MP Dr Alasdair McDonnell is working on behalf of residents affected by overnight noise during the sandblasting of a major road bridge in the heart of the city.

The bridge at Tates Avenue crosses the rail line and is being sandblasted as part of an essential maintenance programme.

Dr McDonnell stated: "I have asked Roads Service and the City Council to take further steps to meet residents concerns over noise. I understand that some residents cannot sleep due to the noise and disruption created by these maintenance works. I can appreciate that such essential works need to take place, but this is a densely populated area, and the contractors also need to take local people into account. This work is lasting for several weeks. If it was a few days, it might not be such an issue, but no one wants to be sleep deprived for a long period of time.

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"My office have been in contact with Roads service, and the noise pollution staff in Belfast City Council, in order to get the message across that this work has upset people. The relevant authorities need to address their concerns in a reasonable way, such as altering working hours, and installing further acoustic screening. Hopefully such measures will minimise disruption and I will continue to monitor the situation on behalf of local people."

(CD/JP)