Belfast Cathedral Quarter pedestrianisation plans put on hold due to 'competing priorities'
Plans to ban cars from a popular Belfast city centre street have been temporarily put on hold due to "competing work priorities."
Hill Street, which contains a number of bars and restaurants, was pedestrianised for a trial period in 2020 during the pandemic. Cars were temporarily banned from the area by then Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon in a bid to encourage walking and cycling.
Plans to make the pedestrianisation of the Cathedral Quarter permanent have faced years of delays since then. The pedestrianisation plans include Hill Street, Gordon Street, and Waring Street, with service access only available to local businesses in the area.
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In response to an Assembly question from DUP MLA, Phillip Brett, Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd announced that the plans had been put on hold temporarily.
Mr O'Dowd said: "I can advise that my officials are currently working on several competing work priorities and consequently development work on the proposal to pedestrianise Hill Street / Gordon Street, Belfast has temporarily been put on hold. Officials will keep the position under review and recommence work as soon as resources are available."
North Belfast MLA, Phillip Brett, said the "dither and delay" on pedestrianisation of the area was "frankly unacceptable." He added: "Despite over four years of discussions, the Department is no further on and has now paused the scheme. This is simply a shocking state of affairs.
"This should be an easy and straightforward process. The Cathedral Quarter is a vital component of the night-time economy and cultural heart of Belfast City Centre and the lack of ambition from the Department to support its continued growth is hugely disappointing.
"I will continue to campaign on this important issue, to support the local economy, the creative industries and to make Belfast a more attractive and accessible city."
Councillor Carl Whyte said pedestrianising the busy nightlife area is "absolutely urgent." He said: "Since August 2024 alone the Department for Infrastructure has announced over eight million pounds worth of road improvements so it will come as a big surprise to people in Belfast that the small amount of money required to pedestrianise Hill Street still somehow cannot be found.
"Anyone in Belfast on a Friday or Saturday night can clearly see the danger posed by the combination of car traffic and large crowds of people on Hill Street and that full pedestrianisation, which is supported by all local businesses, is absolutely urgent.
"It’s simply not credible to blame the British government for every delay or failure from a Stormont department. In government, the SDLP brought forward this proposal and showed the benefits with a previous trial period. This is not a major project requiring a large investment so for the Minister to try and pass the blame for this delay rings hollow."
In March, the minister said his department was proposing to pedestrianise most of the street, including nearby Gordon Street and Waring Street. A one-way system would be introduced to the area under the plans.
In 2022, a public consultation on the pedestrianisation of the area was first proposed by the Department for Infrastructure.
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