Northern Ireland

Work halted on Saintfield Road wall amid height row

The recently erected wall on the Saintfield Road in Belfast. Picture by Mal McCann
The recently erected wall on the Saintfield Road in Belfast. Picture by Mal McCann The recently erected wall on the Saintfield Road in Belfast. Picture by Mal McCann

WORK on a new wall along one of Belfast's busiest roads has been halted after several businesses complained about the height of the new structure.

A long-standing footbridge over the A24 Saintfield Road was replaced by a pedestrian crossing over the summer as part of a £700,000 scheme.

Further work includes the construction of a retaining wall at the back of the new footway along Beechill Avenue.

However, several businesses in the area are unhappy with the height of the new wall.

Business owners have said the wall obscures their shop fronts and will have an effect on passing trade.

It is understood work on the wall stopped more than a week ago as the Department for Infrastructure and businesses attempt to find a way forward.

A spokeswoman for the department said the wall is needed to "meet the most up to date safety standards".

"We know that there are different views on the desirability of the current design for the wall and we have been discussing with elected representatives and local business owners several options for the completion of the wall that do not in any way compromise safety," she said.

"While we explore those options we did agree to pause work on the completion of the wall.

"We will update local elected representatives and traders on the way forward as soon as we can and then proceed to complete this work."