Traffic to be banned along Dark Hedges road?

The news comes after the Department of Infrastructure at the Northern Ireland Executive proposed banning vehicles along the Bregagh Road.

However it said the plans were in the early stages of consultation.

The department said it intended to publish a “notice of intention” to for the proposal in the autumn.

“Following discussions with Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council and other interested parties, the department has agreed to take forward an order prohibiting vehicles using Bregagh Road,” it said.

During Tuesday’s Leisure and Development Committee, UUP councillor Joan Baird confirmed that party colleague and local MLA Robin Swann had received a letter that evening from Transport NI stating that they had agreed a traffic order prohibiting vehicles along certain roads.

She added: “This is a good step forward in protecting these trees.”

More in this week’s Times both online and in print.