'It looks as if the DfI are placating a tiny minority of residents as an excuse to kick the can down the road'
The tortured saga surrounding the creation of a road crossing beside Cherryvale Playing Fields in South Belfast is set to continue, after councillors and Stormont officials clashed at a meeting in City Hall.
The crossing request by the council was made in 2021, agreed by DfI in 2022, and still nothing has been done. A request by a councillor to reopen the gates at the park, which have been closed for over 20 years, was made in 2017 “I am quite happy to take part in that with the council, and play my part in terms of any letter drops and communications that need to take place. But I need a commitment from the council that they are happy to carry that out in conjunction with ourselves.”
Councillor de Faoite replied: “That is ridiculous. The council has more than played its part at this stage. The department is dragging its feet on a crossing that is desperately needed, that has been promised for three if not four years. It has been delayed and delayed at every turn. There has been such a level of consultation that it has become ridiculous. I have to lodge my frustration.
Councillor de Faoite said: “And the council has met with them on a number of occasions, well above the normal level of communication in relation to a proposal like this. Council officers have been subjected to abuse from some of those people, and the department is aware of how difficult that has been.
Green Party Councillor for Lisnasharragh Brian Smyth said: “I am pretty furious here at the way this has been handled. How much more consultation do we need on this? 89.5 percent of residents supported this in terms of a gate and a crossing.
SDLP Green Party South Belfast Stormont East Belfast Ormeau Road
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Councillors clash over plan to remove South Belfast out of hours GP serviceLisburn and Castlereagh City Council has passed a motion to save service but move labelled 'nimbyism' politics
Read more »
Councillors clash oven plan to remove South Belfast out of hours GP serviceLisburn and Castlereagh City Council has passed a motion to save service but move labelled 'nimbyism' politics
Read more »
DfI refuses to respond to our questions on Belfast city centre's traffic issuesBelfast Live sent Stormont Department five questions that came up frequently during our series on city centre congestion issues
Read more »
DFI finally outline solutions for Belfast city centre congestionThis month, the Department for Infrastructure had refused to respond to a series of questions from Belfast Live regarding the ongoing traffic congestion issues in the city centre
Read more »
DfI Provides Update on Belfast Roadworks and Future PlansThe Department for Infrastructure (DfI) has updated Belfast City Council on the progress of roadworks and future plans for the city, despite challenges in securing funding for the 2024/25 budget. DfI aims to enhance local transport, improve safety, and maintain the road network.
Read more »
DfI announce details of 'urgent' Belfast road works during festive embargoDfI says 'every step has been taken to minimise disruption' during the urgent repairs
Read more »