‘Active travel’ infrastructure call for Antrim and Newtownabbey

Calls have been made to roll out active travel infrastructure beyond Belfast’s boundaries.

Earlier in the summer Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon MLA announced £20m in funding for blue/green infrastructure to support communities through this transformational period and to promote active travel, however most of the projects are centred around Belfast.

South Antrim Alliance MLA John Blair has said time is running out to capitalise on people’s renewed appreciation of the environment and newfound interests in cycling and walking.

The party’s Climate Emergency spokesperson explained: “We have, I believe, a once in a generation opportunity to deliver a lasting transformative change by creating a sustainable active travel network.

“We have seen the largest-ever single boost in cycling and walking and the Department should encourage this interest in active travel as we return to work. Investing in greenways and pop-up cycle lanes that don’t stop at the boundaries of Belfast, South Antrim needs to see this investment also.”

Mr Blair added: “I have raised these questions with the Minister who informed me of her plans to develop a scheme to deliver a shared use footway/cycleway along the existing verge and hard shoulder on Paradise Walk and Parkgate Road to improve pedestrian and cycle links between Templepatrick and Parkgate, but there needs to be more and soon.

“I have had discussions with Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, Sustrans and Greenways NI to develop greenway proposals such as linking the Ballymartin Park and Ride to cycle routes to Belfast and connecting the Jordanstown Loughshore Park cycle path to a route to the centre of Belfast to ease traffic congestion and combat air pollution.”

Commenting on the issue, Mr Blair’s party colleage on council, Ald Julian McGrath added: “I was encouraged to see Minister Mallon unveil a new 1.4 kilometre traffic-free path linking Blaris Road to Sprucefield Retail Park and Sprucefield Park and Ride, but we urgently need to create similar opportunities in Antrim and Newtownabbey.

“There is a long standing issue of congestion on the M2 and Antrim Road, for example, these over-crowded routes increase air pollution. We need to re-direct funding to more sustainable forms of travel.

“Currently someone commuting could cycle from Randalstown to Belfast, and come across almost no cycling infrastructure until they reach Belfast.”

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper whenever you are able to do so.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper when you can safely.

You can also enjoy unlimited access to the best news from across Northern Ireland and the UK by subscribing to newsletter.co.uk

With a digital subscription, you can read more than five articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Thank you.