City Residents To Get 'Own Door Parking' Assurance

A major scheme to allow inner city residents to be assured they can park at 'their own door' has been launched.

In the face of widespread commuter parking in residential areas within walking distance of Belfast city centre, the Minister for Regional Development, Conor Murphy has announced the start of the informal consultation process on the first five proposed residents' parking schemes in Belfast.

The Minister welcomed the commencement of the scheme's design and a public consultation process covering five city centre areas including Barrack Street, Donegall Pass, Sandy Row, the Markets (west of Cromac Street) and Brown's Square.

He said that the scheme design process involves conducting parking surveys, initial scheme design, informal consultation with residents, finalisation of scheme designs, and commencement of the necessary legislative process.

He said this is a significant undertaking and the legislative process itself may take up to 12 months to complete.

"Residents' parking schemes will deliver substantial benefits to all residents living within them by providing improved parking opportunities which will mean residents will normally be able to park quite close to their home at any time of the day.

"They can leave their home during the day and be reasonably confident of getting a parking space when they return," he said, also noting that the scheme was also designed for better access for emergency vehicles.

"There will be improved traffic progression, which will lead to better access for all, including bin lorries, doctors, ambulances, carers and other essential services," he said.

A public exhibition of the initial scheme design will be held within each area and all residents are encouraged to attend the exhibition and make their views known to the Roads Service representatives.

Residents will therefore have the opportunity to influence scheme design throughout the process.

He noted that residents from the areas under consideration will be advised by letter in due course of the date and times of the individual exhibitions and where initial design drawings for the area in question will be available for viewing for seven days before the dates listed below.

Roads Service has also started work on the next five areas for schemes. These are: The Markets (east of Cromac Street), Lower Ormeau Road, Holyland/University, Lower Lisburn Road and Donegall Road.

(BMcC)