Agenda item

            (Mr. S. Dolan, Development Manager, attended in connection with this item.)

            The Committee was reminded that the Council, at its meeting on 3rd September, had considered the following motion which had been proposed by Councillor Collins and seconded by Councillor Heading:

“This Council notes the introduction of the Belfast Rapid Transit (BRT) to the City. This £90 million investment is intended to lead to an improvement of connectivity in Belfast and in public transport for citizens. The Council notes, however, that the introduction of BRT has led to a number of serious issues that need urgent redressing if the system is not to have an adverse effect on our City.

These include: 

·        impaired access to homes for the elderly and those with serious disabilities; 

·        parents unable to safely leave children to school in some locations;

·        access to local shops has been severely restricted, with car parking spaces removed without any recourse as to where this parking would go thereafter;

·        double yellow lines are to be extended into residential areas, restricting access to homes and again exacerbating the parking problem; 

·        a severe increase in congestion, and the need to come up with solutions to this; and despite these issues being raised, the Department for Infrastructure has failed to introduce any mitigating measures.

In the absence of a Stormont Executive and, acknowledging the important role played by local government in community planning, this Council can play an important role in representing the views of this City to the Department on the relevant issues surrounding BRT. The Council believes that urgent measures are needed to solve these issues. This should be done in an open and transparent manner, involving residents and other stakeholders. Where necessary, aspects of BRT should be delayed to ensure a competent and satisfactory delivery. 

To assist such an approach, the Council will host open meetings in East and West Belfast in order to listen to the concerns of residents on this issue. The Council will also arrange a deputation to the Department for Infrastructure, which will be open to Councillors from all political parties, to discuss how the above problems can be resolved or mitigated.”

            In accordance with Standing Order 13(f), the motion was referred, without discussion, to the City Growth and Regeneration Committee.

A number of Members stated that they were aware of some issues along the Glider route in the west of the city, making particular reference to the difficulties faced by parents trying to leave their children to St. Kevin’s Primary School on the Falls Road.

The Development Manager advised the Committee of a response which had been received from the Department for Infrastructure, and which sought to address a number of the issues which had been raised in the motion.

The response from the Department outlined that:

·        it had, in developing the plans for Belfast rapid transit (BRT), consulted with the Inclusive Mobility Transport Advisory Committee (IMTAC) in order to fully understand the needs of older people and people with disabilities;

·        it had provided an exception within the bus lane legislation which allowed a vehicle to stop in the bus lane, for up to 10 minutes, to drop off or pick up a blue badge holder;

·        wheelchair accessible taxis were permitted to drive in and drop off and pick up from the BRT bus lanes under the legislation;

·        it believed that the BRT glider service would help reduce existing local parking pressures as more people began to use public transport instead of private cars;

·        it would seek to provide disabled parking bays along the route, where possible;

·        it was engaging with the schools along the BRT routes to encourage safer and more sustainable transport;

·        it had had numerous discussions with traders along the BRT routes;

·        the legislation provided a loading/unloading window between 10am and 2pm, which was available to anyone, commercial or personal;

·        limited waiting restrictions had been introduced to help support businesses and prevent all-day commuter parking; and

·        under the Northern Ireland Highway code rule 240 it was illegal to park within 15m of a corner, whether it was marked on the ground or not.

            After discussion, the Committee noted:

1.      the contents of the motion; and

2.      that the Department for Infrastructure would be attending a Special meeting in November.