O’Dowd appeals to MLAs to stop describing Belfast congestion as ‘chaos’
City centre commuters have faced significant disruption since the opening of Grand Central Station.
Stormont’s Infrastructure minister has urged fellow MLAs to stop referring to Belfast’s traffic problems as “chaos”.
John O’Dowd suggested dire descriptions of the recent congestion issues were discouraging people from travelling into the city.
The city centre has been beset with traffic management issues in recent weeks, with road closures and diversions linked to the opening of the new Grand Central Station being key factors in the disruption.
While the minister has urged commuters to look to switch to public transport to help alleviate the congestion, bus and train services have also been hit by delays and cancellations.
A senior official in Mr O’Dowd’s department has also urged people whose workplaces are based in Belfast to consider working one day a week from home, if possible, as another means to help lift some pressure on the city’s road network.
Mr O’Dowd faced more questions on the traffic problems in the Assembly on Tuesday.
He was pressed on the impact of the congestion on city centre businesses in the run-up to Christmas.
The minister has brought forward a meeting with a business representative group to this Thursday after it raised concern that it was originally scheduled for January, after the peak festive season is over.
“Those who claim to have the interests of Belfast at heart would do well not to be broadcasting constantly: ‘There’s traffic chaos in Belfast,'” Mr O’Dowd told MLAs in the chamber.
“There is traffic congestion in Belfast. Last Thursday night was particularly difficult as a result of a traffic accident on the M1 and M2, the weather conditions and failure of traffic lights at the Ormeau Road.
“So if people in this room have genuinely the interest of Belfast at heart, then let’s have a sensible, informed conversation about what’s going on in Belfast and ensuring that those people who want to travel to Belfast to enjoy the sights and sounds of the festive season feel confident in doing so.”
The minister said he would work with businesses to examine their concerns.
“One of the reasons why Belfast is so busy with traffic is because Belfast is doing particularly well commercially as well,” he said.
“Like all businesses, they’re still recovering from the Covid-19 impact.
“This season is particularly important to them. I will work with businesses on that matter.
“But, again, I say to members in this chamber, if you’re sending out a message that there’s chaos in Belfast, what message does that send to people who are wanting to come into the city to enjoy the sights and sounds of the city?
“I and my department have set out alternatives to commuters coming into the city, and I would encourage others to encourage commuters to see and plan how they travel into the city.”
