Agenda item

            The Committee was reminded that, as advised earlier in the meeting, the Council at its meeting on 1st March, had agreed that the minute of the meeting of 9th February, under the heading “Knockbreda Road entrance to Cherryfield Playing Fields”, be taken back to the Committee for further consideration. 

            The Committee then considered further the minute of the meeting of 9th February, an extract of the minutes is set hereunder:

“The Committee considered the report, during which a number of Members expressed concern at the potential road safety concerns should the gate be re-opened, following which it was:

Moved by Councillor Baker,

Seconded by Councillor Garrett,

“This Committee agrees in principle to the opening of the gate, subject to internal financing being secured. This agreement will also be subject to safe road crossing/road safety measures being considered and agreed in advance by the Department for Infrastructure and approved through a statutory public consultation.”

Amendment

Moved by Councillor de Faoite,

Seconded by Councillor Smyth,

“In order to adequately address the road safety concerns expressed in the survey responses, Belfast City Council will write to the Department for Infrastructure requesting that a pedestrian crossing adjacent to the Knockbreda Road and Ravenhill Road gates to Cherryvale be funded as part of the blue and green Infrastructure fund.

Pedestrian crossings at this location, along with the opening of the gate, would help to link pedestrian and cyclist routes from Cregagh Glen to the Lagan Gateway greenway, across the planned crossing on the A55, through Rosetta, Knockbreda Road, Cherryvale Playing Fields, Ravenhill Road, Ormeau Road, Sunnyside Street, Annadale Embankment, Governors Bridge, Stranmillis Embankment, Lockview Road to the Lagan Towpath.”

            The Proposer of the motion advised that he was content to accept the amendment but the proposer of the amendment stated that he wished for it to be taken as a separate proposal and requested a recorded vote:

            On a recorded vote, six Members voted for the proposal and twelve against and it was declared lost.

            A further Member requested that a site visit to the location be organised with DfI representatives to enable further consideration of the road safety concerns.

            The Proposer of the original Motion, Councillor Baker, advised that he was content to accept the aforementioned amendments, as proposed by Councillor de Faoite, and also acceded to the request to convene a site visit and the Committee unanimously agreed:  

·        in principle to the opening of the gate, as outlined in Option 2 of the report, subject to internal financing being secured;

·        that the agreement would be subject to safe road crossing/road safety measures being agreed in advance by the DfI and approved through a statutory public consultation;

·        that the Committee would write to the Infrastructure Minister to outline the position and to stress that, whilst the survey was positive, road safety concerns remained a major issue and request that to try and alleviate these concerns that a pedestrian crossing be installed at the location (adjacent to the Knockbreda Road and Ravenhill Road gates to Cherryvale) with the funding for the proposed crossing being sought from the blue and green Infrastructure fund; and

·        to write to the DfI to request a site visit to the location to discuss and further consider the road safety concerns raised.”

            Councillor de Faoite stated that in an effort to progress the matter the local Councillors from the area had been working together to try and progress the outstanding concerns and he made the following proposal:

“In order to adequately address the road safety concerns expressed in the survey responses, Belfast City Council will write to the Department for Infrastructure requesting that a pedestrian crossing adjacent to the Knockbreda Road and Ravenhill Road gates to Cherryvale be funded as part of the blue and green Infrastructure fund.

Pedestrian crossings at this location, along with the opening of the gate, would help to link pedestrian and cyclist routes from Cregagh Glen to the Lagan Gateway greenway, across the planned crossing on the A55, through Rosetta, Knockbreda Road, Cherryvale Playing Fields, Ravenhill Road, Ormeau Road, Sunnyside Street, Annadale Embankment, Governors Bridge, Stranmillis Embankment, Lockview Road to the Lagan Towpath.

Furthermore, to address the anti-social behaviour concerns an assessment shall be carried out in consultation with adjacent residents who will be affected on the possible options to prevent anti-social behaviour including new lighting options, anti-graffiti paint and anti-climb paint.”

            The Chairperson stated that, whilst he did not agree in principle with the proposal, he was willing to accede to the wishes of the Councillors for the area but asked that his concerns in regard to road safety and specifically in regard to the opening of the gate before a pedestrian crossing was installed be recorded.

            The Committee:  

·        agreed in principle to the opening of the gate, as outlined in Option 2 of the report, subject to internal financing being secured;

·        agreed that, in order to adequately address the road safety concerns expressed in the survey responses, the Council would write to the Department for Infrastructure requesting that a pedestrian crossing adjacent to the Knockbreda Road and Ravenhill Road gates to Cherryvale be funded as part of the blue and green Infrastructure fund;

·        noted that a pedestrian crossing at this location, along with the opening of the gate, would help to link pedestrian and cyclist routes from Cregagh Glen to the Lagan Gateway greenway, across the planned crossing on the A55, through Rosetta, Knockbreda Road, Cherryvale Playing Fields, Ravenhill Road, Ormeau Road, Sunnyside Street, Annadale Embankment, Governors Bridge, Stranmillis Embankment, Lockview Road to the Lagan Towpath; and agreed that, in an attempt to address the anti-social behaviour concerns, that an assessment be carried out in consultation with adjacent residents who might be affected on the possible options to prevent anti-social behaviour including new lighting options, anti-graffiti paint and anti-climb paint;

·        noted that due to current Covid restrictions and the desire to carry out face to face consultations that the consultation process would take time to progress; and

·        agreed that the response from the DfI and outcome of the antisocial behavior assessment, with residents in the immediate area of the gate location, be tabled at a future meeting of the committee for consideration.