AQO 1304/22-27 Oral question to the Minister for Infrastructure
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure for his assessment of the Ards and North Down Borough Council plan to construct a footbridge over the Newtownards to Bangor dual carriageway, to facilitate access to Whitespots Country Park and the planned greenway.
Asked by Nick Mathison MLA on 28 November 2024
- Answered
- Oral
- Answered in the Chamber
- Tabled
- 28 November 2024
- Answer due by
- 10 December 2024
- Answered
- 10 December 202412 days after tabling
- Department
- Department for Infrastructure
- Priority question
- No
Answer
Answered in the Assembly Chamber on 10 December 2024. Extract from the Official Report (Hansard), including any supplementary questions:
Mr O'Dowd
The proposed pedestrian and cycle bridge forms part of the Newtownards to Bangor greenway. Planning approval for the project, including the bridge, was granted in September 2022. Ards and North Down Borough Council is leading on the delivery of the project, and I am pleased that my Department has been able to provide 50% of the capital funding required to bring it forward. We know that greenways contribute positively to local communities and can bring many health and economic benefits. I look forward to seeing that happening here. With respect to active travel more generally, Members may be aware that I recently launched a public consultation on a draft active travel delivery plan for the North. The plan sets out how my Department will prioritise and deliver high-quality active travel infrastructure, particularly for shorter, everyday journeys. I encourage everyone to engage with the consultation to help to shape our priorities for the delivery of pedestrian and cycling infrastructure improvements in our villages, towns and cities now and into the future.
Mr Mathison
I thank the Minister for his response and for the update on the wider investment in greenways. I welcome the investment in greenways in the Ards and North Down Borough Council area. The Minister may be aware that the residents who live directly on the site where the footbridge is due to be constructed have expressed serious concerns about that aspect of the project. They have also raised wider concerns around road safety in the laneway that they reside on, speed limits and proposed alternative crossing options for access to the greenway but have been disappointed by the lack of engagement with DFI officials on their request to meet. Given the range of concerns that they have raised and the constructive proposals that they would like to bring to your officials, would you be able to facilitate a meeting between your officials and that group of concerned residents?
Mr O'Dowd
The Member will be aware that the project received planning permission in September 2022 and has gone through the local council. All the issues related to residents' concerns will have been dealt with through the planning process. My understanding is that Ards and North Down Borough Council is moving ahead with the project. It is regrettable that there are concerns. I do not know all the circumstances — there are often understandable concerns about changes in neighbourhoods and to the environment around citizens — but the planning process has to take all that into account and come to a decision. A decision has been made by Ards and North Down Borough Council to proceed with the project.
Miss Brogan
Will the Minister outline what his Department is doing to improve active travel?
Mr O'Dowd
As I mentioned, I recently launched the active travel consultation document. I encourage Members and others to make themselves familiar with that document and respond to it in due course. It sets out the Department's vision of what active travel will look like in the future. We have given a number of examples and locations where we would like to see active travel projects go ahead. It is important that local communities and elected representatives feed into the consultation in order to make the document as inclusive as possible.
Mr McNulty
Will the Minister give an update on the new Newry to Carlingford greenway that is under construction? I know that a new boardwalk is being constructed adjacent to Victoria lock. That project, together with the Narrow Water bridge project, which has, of course, been paid for by the Irish Government, will be transformative for Omeath, Warrenpoint, the Mournes, Cooley and the whole region.
Mr O'Dowd
The supplementary question does not relate to the original question, but the Member has given us a comprehensive update on the project.
Mr Allen
I thank the Minister for his update on active travel. Minister, what are you doing to ensure that the voice of the disabled community is at the forefront of active travel, particularly on schemes such as bus stop boarders that have an impact on the disabled community? Will those, such as the example on the Dublin Road be addressed?
Mr O'Dowd
The Member raises a relevant and important point about the inclusivity of active travel moving forward. We are working closely with the Inclusive Mobility and Transport Advisory Committee (IMTAC) on that. I believe that Dermot Devlin was present and gave an address at the recent launch of the document. We are engaging closely with the disabled community on the issue. They are important stakeholders in the discussion on active travel and how we plan for it. I encourage anyone with views on active travel to respond to the consultation.