Town 'bemused and confused' as big yellow box disappears

August: The yellow box is gone but not forgotten

A yellow box junction which was hailed as the biggest in the UK and Ireland has been removed from a County Londonderry town.

The 40m-long yellow markings in Maghera were painted in June, then reduced in size in July, and now have disappeared completely.

However, a yellow box is expected to make a comeback in the autumn, when resurfacing work in the town is completed.

Mid Ulster Councillor Denise Johnston said she wants a meeting with the Department for Infrastructure over what she described as "a waste" of public money.

Questions have been asked about the cost of the work, and why the lines were painted in June if resurfacing work was planned in August.

SDLP councillor Denise Johnston told BBC Radio Foyle: "It just doesn't make sense and it's not a good use of public money".

"I do get the importance of a yellow box - a yellow box will be necessary there - but … if you know you're going to resurface the road two or three months later, why would you do it?"

She said many people in Maghera had been left "bemused and confused".

July: The beginning of the end

The Department for Infrastructure (DfI), which is in charge of roads in Northern Ireland, said the costs could not be released as they were "commercially sensitive".

Explaining the changes which have taken place, a DfI spokesperson said: "The department implemented the yellow box markings at this location to assist with the ease of Translink bus movements to and from the main bus stop on St Lurachs Road.

"The extent of the markings was reviewed following initial installation and subsequently reduced in length to improve traffic flow. The yellow box marking will be reinstated upon completion of the resurfacing on Hall Street."

In response to the criticism from local councillor Denise Johnston, the DfI said they would be willing to meet with her to hear concerns.

A spokesperson said: "DfI officials regularly meet with elected representatives on a range of issues and will be happy to meet with Cllr Johnston if a request is received."

June: The yellow box in all its glory

The removal of the yellow box junction is the talk of the town in Maghera.

Melissa Caskey, who works in an office beside the junction, says she hopes the yellow box will return soon.

"It did help with the traffic, once they made the box smaller.

"When they reduced the size, people did actually use it properly," she said.

"It also helped the buses. This is a really busy road."

Melissa Caskey said the smaller yellow box did help with traffic

Maghera, with its population of fewer than 5,000 people, was dubbed the "small town with the big yellow box" after the first appearance of the markings in June.

The extra-large box stretched along a busy junction frequently used by buses, lorries and cars.

After complaints, the box was scaled back but it took a while as the distinctive yellow markings are not easily removed.

Public realm improvements have been taking place in the town for the past year.

As well as installing new street furniture and widening footpaths, the project tried to tackle traffic flow issues.