The crossing would have been at a dangerous bend on Annadale embankment
A request by Belfast Council for a “Lagan Gateway” pedestrian crossing across a dangerous curve on the Annadale Embankment in South Belfast has been given short shrift from Stormont.
A Stormont reply to the correspondence from City Hall stated the request was 68th on the prioritised list of potential sites in the city, effectively suggesting that chances of a crossing being created there were negligible to none.
At the November meeting of the council’s People and Communities Committee at City Hall on Tuesday (November 4), elected representatives were informed of the reply from the Stormont Department for Infrastructure Liz Kimmins.
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She wrote: “With regards to the provision of a pedestrian crossing within this area, officials have advised that an assessment was carried out on Annadale Embankment in the vicinity of College Drive on June 8 2023.
“Whilst the survey indicated there is indeed a demand for a crossing, the result of the assessment currently places this location 68th on the prioritised list of potential sites assessed for a controlled crossing in the Belfast area. As such, it is unlikely this site will attract funding in the near future.
“Officials will, however, continue to keep this location on our list of potential sites for consideration for inclusion in programmed works in future years. A further survey was completed on Annadale Avenue at Mornington on November 9 2023.
“The survey indicated that this location did not meet the minimum requirement for a pedestrian crossing, and we therefore have no current plans to introduce a pedestrian crossing at this location.
“Delivery of Active Travel projects investment in Belfast is primarily focused on the delivery of the short-term Belfast Cycling Network schemes. Annadale Embankment and Annadale Avenue are not currently being prioritised for consideration.”
The request came after a proposal by SDLP Councillor Séamas de Faoite. He said in August: “There is significant research that would suggest that the more sustained access to nature, particularly for children and young people, the more likely they are to become people who will champion and uphold the protection of nature and biodiversity. So I think it is really important we can do all we can so that access is properly upheld.
“Unfortunately, when it comes to getting to the Lagan Gateway from my constituency, part of the problem is the speed and volume of traffic on Annadale and Annadale embankment. I have on a number of occasions throughout the years asked the Department of Infrastructure to address the issues on this particular junction, in terms of speed, in terms of cycling and pedestrian infrastructure.
“Unfortunately to date they haven’t taken up any of the calls for change. It is a very dangerous bend and turn, and at the moment what we are expecting people to do is take their lives in their hands to try and cross that road.”
In June a new connecting greenway along the River Lagan in South Belfast was approved at City Hall, constituting Phase Two of the Lagan Gateway project. The development consists of paths, a new elevated timber boardwalk, landscaping works including tree-planting, new cycle stands and seating.
The plan involves lands to the east of the River Lagan, between Lagan Gateway phase one and Belvoir Park Forest, running adjacent to the west of Belvoir Park Golf Club and approximately 120 metres to the east of Newtownbreda Water Treatment Plant, Galwally Ave, Belfast BT8. The applicant is Belfast City Council.
The Lagan Gateway Project aims to enhance connectivity along the River Lagan, and has been broken down into two phases. Phase one included a link bridge connecting Annadale Embankment and Lagan Meadows as well as a new boat lock at Stranmillis and a path linking Annadale embankment with Stranmillis.
The site for phase two comprises a section of land to the south of phase one and will connect Lagan Meadows to Belvoir Forest Park. The overall length of the proposed new greenway will be approximately one kilometre.
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