FRESH proposals are to be drawn up to pedestrianise an area of Belfast's Cathedral Quarter.
Vehicles had previously been banned along Hill Street and the adjacent Gordon Street under a trial scheme during the Covid-19 pandemic.
It was part of plans by the then SDLP Infrastructure minister Nichola Mallon to encourage more walking and cycling in the city.
However, the scheme ended in October amid a mixed response from local businesses.
Ms Mallon had previously said her department had sought to promote improvements on Hill Street and Gordon Street "by consensus rather than by enforcement" and officials were engaging with stakeholders.
However Belfast Live reported yesterday that the new Infrastructure minister, John O'Dowd, is considering new proposals to pedestrianise the area close to the city centre.
It came in an answer to a written Assembly question from SDLP MLA Matthew O'Toole, who asked the Sinn Féin minister for "an update on his department’s plan for the pedestrianisation of Hill Street".
Mr O'Dowd replied: "My officials have recently developed a new proposal for the pedestrianisation of Hill Street and are currently engaging with stakeholders and local businesses on this proposal".
It comes just days after it was revealed that the pedestrianisation of Union Street in the city centre is to be extended by six months.
The Department for Infrastructure confirmed the extension in response to an assembly question from the SDLP.
A decision on whether to make the move permanent will be taken at a later date.
