Preliminary proposals for a £2.5 million public realm scheme in Maghera have struck a chord with locals.

Mid Ulster District Council described feedback and interest on the scheme as "significant".

The proposed public realm scheme extends the length of Main Street, taking in parts of Coleraine Road, Station Road, Meeting House Avenue, Tirkane Road, Church Street, Glen Road, Hall Street, Bank Square and St Lurach's Road.

Designs under the scheme include new paving, street lighting, planting and street furniture, as well as proposals to address substandard footpath widths, poor pedestrian access and traffic flow issues.

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Locals particularly expressed a keen interest in the introduction of a one-way system on Upper Main Street to increase traffic flow and 'green light' time, as well as plans for widened roadways, a new mini-roundabout at the junction of Fairhill and Hall Street and an improved junction at St Lurach's Road and Hall Street, both to improve access and vehicle turning capacity.

Views on the proposals were gathered online, as well as through an information session on Wednesday 27 November.

Councillor Martin Kearney, Chair of the Council, said: "This scheme would be a substantial investment in Maghera and it's important that local people input into the designs at these early stages, so the significant interest which has been shown is very welcome.

"All the feedback will be considered as we move towards the next stages of the project."

The latest feedback will be reviewed and where necessary the proposals will be revised. The scheme is subject to an Economic Appraisal and the outcome of a funding application with the Department for Communities (DfC). If funding is confirmed, the project will move to planning application stage with further public consultations, followed by procurement. The anticipated start date of any scheme is early 2021.

(CM/JG)