Agenda and minutes

Pursuant to the Committee’s decision of 14^th January, to undertake a tour of the arterial routes which have benefited from the Renewing the Routes Initiative.

            In pursuance of the Committee’s decision of 14th January, the Committee undertook a tour of the arterial routes which had benefited from the Renewing the Routes Initiative.

            The Planning and Transport Policy Manager reminded the Members that Belfast’s arterial routes were crucial to the successful social and economic health of the City.  These roads now required significant investment to tackle problems of economic, social, physical and environmental decline.  He explained that the Renewing the Routes Initiative was an innovative approach which had been developed locally to enhance the areas and the vitality of the routes.  By developing and implementing local regeneration plans, the work being undertaken as part of the Initiative had secured local ownership and helped link wider regeneration activity.  He pointed out that the work was carried out under four themes – commercial improvements, gateway sites, heritage and cleaner, greener and safer neighbourhoods.  He informed the Committee that the scheme would finish in March, 2010, by which time £4.1 million would have been invested in various projects. 

            The Committee viewed the work which had been undertaken on the Falls, Springfield, Shankill and Crumlin Roads as part of the Initiative and was advised of projects which were on-going in other parts of the City.  In addition, the Members visited a number of locations in order to examine specific schemes.

            At the conclusion of the tour, the Committee indicated that it was pleased with the improvements which had been undertaken through Renewing the Routes Initiative and thanked the staff for the information which they had provided during the visit.