With my native home on one side of the River Bann and my current residence on the other, I have witnessed firsthand the challenges created by the deteriorating condition of the Kilrea Bann Bridge. For many of us, this bridge is far more than a physical crossing; it is a vital connector between two counties and a lifeline to work, education, medical services, and the wider community. Yet its current state is causing significant disruption to daily life, placing financial, social, and emotional strain on residents across the area.

Frequent closures due to safety concerns are not mere inconveniences—they are substantial barriers that affect daily routines and create serious risks during emergencies. These closures place additional pressure on an already stretched emergency services system, potentially jeopardizing timely access to urgent care. Local businesses have faced severe financial hardship, yet there has been a notable lack of support or meaningful engagement from three key government departments: the Department for Infrastructure (DfI), the Department for Communities, and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA). This disregard for the economic impact on businesses and workers is deeply concerning.

As a rural community, we should be protected under legislation such as the Rural Needs Act, which is intended to ensure that the particular challenges faced by rural populations are recognised and addressed. However, it appears that these protections have been overlooked or sidelined, leaving communities like ours to bear the consequences of prolonged infrastructure failures without adequate support.

Kilrea is a strong and thriving community that deserves infrastructure capable of supporting both its present needs and future growth. Existing funding streams could be effectively utilised to construct a new, modern bridge designed to provide safer, more reliable, and more sustainable access. While repairs to the existing bridge may be necessary in the short term, it is essential that these works—and the eventual reopening of the current structure—do not diminish the momentum or reduce the pressure to deliver a new bridge. Temporary fixes cannot substitute for long-term solutions.

The NI Executive and Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council must prioritize this issue. Approving and progressing plans for a new bridge would represent a meaningful commitment to the long-term safety, well-being, and prosperity of Kilrea, Rasharkin, and the surrounding areas. It is time for decision-makers to recognise the urgency of this situation, to uphold their responsibilities to rural communities, and to ensure that no area is disadvantaged because of its geography.

We ask you to stand with us in advocating for this essential development by signing this petition. Let us urge the relevant authorities to acknowledge the urgent need for a new Kilrea Bridge and to take swift, decisive action to secure the future of our community and ensure we are never in this position again.