An Alliance Councillor is calling on the Department for Infrastructure to hold a full consultation on the possibility of pedestrianising Belfast City Centre before re-opening the road network close to Primark.

Much of Royal Avenue and the surrounding roads had been closed to traffic after a fire raged through the historic bank buildings which housed the retailer last August.

A popup space in Castle Place, with seating to relax and colourful attractions for children had proved a hit while necessary work to reopen the area to traffic was carried out, but many have now called for the area to be permanently closed off to traffic.

Belfast City Council responded to the demands by saying the Department for Infrastructure and other agencies are responsible for traffic management and any plans to pedestrianise the area.

A council statement read: "We are taking on board all your feedback however, and will share it with our city partners as we continue to look at ways to reimagine how our city centre spaces are used.

"Following the fire at Bank Buildings and the resulting cordon, Council and its partners took the opportunity to trial a number of projects as part of our city centre recovery work, including the pop-up park at Castle Place and upcoming activities planned for other locations."

East Belfast Alliance Councillor Sian O'Neill is now urging the Department for Infrastructure to hold a full consultation on the issue to ensure the right decision for Belfast's future is taken.

She said: "The response from the public has been overwhelmingly in favour of the continuation of the pedestrianised area, especially when coupled with the effective animation of the area by Belfast City Centre and other partners. Informally, many have indicated an increased use of the city centre, a safer environment for pedestrians and better access.

"Additionally, changing the environment of the city centre could precipitate a shift in the use of space within the city centre. One of the key aims of the Belfast Agenda is to encourage city centre living with the hope of creating a vibrant, well-connected environment for people to inhabit and enjoy. The pedestrianisation of the city centre may well allow for this to become a reality.

"However, we are mindful that traders, and especially SMEs, in the area have endured significant pressures since the fire last year which led to the forced pedestrianisation of the city centre.

"For this reason, we are calling on the Department to conduct a thorough evaluation and consultation with stakeholders including the businesses affected and the general public as to the impact permanent pedestrianisation would have and going forward the Alliance team will be meeting with all external organisations with a role to play."



(JG/CM)