THERE have been calls for more pedestrianisation of key routes in Belfast to "open up road space... and allow us all to use the street in different ways".
A Belfast city council committee yesterday discussed a proposal by the SDLP's Donal Lyons to begin the process of pedestrianising streets in the city centre.
He "called on council to see what it can do to make Belfast city centre an easier place to be".
It comes amid suggestions that the busy Ormeau Road could be closed to weekend traffic as lockdown measures are eased.
This would allow restaurants, cafes and pubs to make greater use of pavement space in front of their businesses to ensure social distancing.
The plan, first mooted by architect Ciaran Fox, director at the Royal Society of Architects, would see the road closed to traffic from the Park Road junction to Parador Lodge - apart from buses, blue badge holders and residential parking.
Two lanes of traffic would still operate, with the remaining two used as an open zone for walking, cycling and limited vehicle use.
Traffic could use the neighbouring Ravenhill Road and Annadale Embankment.
Calls for pedestrianisation of streets in Belfast were yesterday discussed by Belfast city council.
"While the council has signalled its intention to start taking applications for pavement cafes the reality is in many places that this won’t be enough, the footpath will be too narrow, the space reserved for vehicles will be too wide," Mr Lyons said.
"Opening up road space would also give us a lot more options and allow us all to use the street in different ways. I also called on council to see what it can do to make Belfast city centre an easier place to be.
"We need to think creatively about how we use both public and private space and ensure that when we open space up, those with different needs are included."
He added: "While many of the measures proposed today are temporary it is my hope that they will be considered a pilot and eventually become a lasting positive legacy of the Covid-19 crisis."
