O'Toole Calls For Permanent Pedestrianisation Of Hill Street

The Leader of the Opposition and South Belfast MLA, Matthew O'Toole, has called for the permanent pedestrianisation of Hill Street in Belfast.

His comments come after the Infrastructure Minister announced another experimental six-month scheme for the area, which Mr O'Toole questioned the necessity of. The SDLP politician noted that a previous pedestrianisation scheme, introduced by a former SDLP Minister, was a success. He also criticised the Executive's past attempts to blame UK Government austerity for being unable to afford the project's estimated £5,000 cost. While welcoming the progress, he will be seeking assurances that this new measure is not just another temporary one.

SDLP North Belfast Councillor Carl Whyte echoed these sentiments, stating that the scheme should be "the end of a long-running saga." He highlighted the clear benefits of removing traffic from the street, which is one of the city centre's busiest areas. Councillor Whyte has contacted the Minister to ask for details on how the pedestrianisation will be enforced, as some vehicles will still require access for deliveries. He stressed the need for a clear plan in cooperation with the PSNI to ensure that drivers comply with the new rules, warning that "pedestrianisation in name only is no good to anyone." Hill Street, located in the city's popular Cathedral Quarter, has a number of bars, restaurants, and cultural venues. It was temporarily pedestrianised in 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic, but a permanent plan has been delayed for years.

Man Charged After Police Vehicle Rammed

Police have charged a 26-year-old man in connection with an incident in the Ballymagorry area on Saturday, 20 September, where a patrol vehicle was rammed and two police officers were injured. The man, who appeared today before Londonderry Magistrates’ Court, faced a number of charges, including assault on police, dangerous driving, and attempting to cause grievous bodily harm. As is usual procedure, all charges are reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service.

UUP Demands 'True Victim Focus' From New Legacy Deal

The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) has expressed caution about the joint legacy framework announced by the British and Irish governments, stating that any new mechanisms must be judged on their ability to deliver justice for victims and survivors, not on political rhetoric.

The party is calling for an in-depth scrutiny of the new commitment from Dublin, arguing that the Irish government cannot be allowed to critique the UK's legacy processes without providing coherent mechanisms of its own. While the UUP notes that the commitment to establish a dedicated Garda legacy unit may be a step in the right direction, it insists that output will be key.

The party is demanding a ring-fenced commitment to victim participation and unredacted information for investigations, adding that similar promises have been made previously without being fulfilled.

UUP leader Mike Nesbitt emphasised that the views of victims and survivors must be at the heart of any legacy mechanism. The party is not convinced that victims were central to the design of this new process. The UUP also raised concerns about the lack of detail regarding the new Legacy Commission and an oversight body, as well as the fact that the announcement was made without first being brought to Parliament. The party stressed that the repackaging of the Stormont House Agreement to exclude victims of crimes short of murder is an "amnesty for all crimes short of murder," a position it has previously rejected and will not accept now. The UUP vows to continue scrutinising the proposed legislation to ensure the new framework becomes a "genuine mechanism for justice."