Time to get serious about improving the city centre

The declining footfall they mention for Lisburn would hardly be helped by the poor appearance of Bow Street and the severe neglect of the sunken gardens which are a mixture of dead plants or no plants and litter.

The pavement is falling apart down Bow Street after the severe winter. Even the flowerbeds near the toilets in Castle Gardens are kept in a better state.

Can cCouncillors step back and see the big picture?

I suggest Bow Street should be pedestrianised right from the front of the Mall to the back of the Mall, leaving one way traffic up Chapel Hill only. The traffic would be still be allowed under the railway bridge in Antrim Street to turn into the Mall car park or left down Railway Street.

There is a perfectly good, nearby ring road round Lisburn for all traffic which would not cause inconvenience.

The sunken gardens should be filled in/removed and replaced with seating and paving of a good standard. This would discourage the destruction of the skateboarders and give people somewhere nice to sit or meet friends.

Making your way from Bow Street to Bow Street Mall on a Saturday is unpleasant and dangerous due to congested narrow pavements and heavy traffic and fumes. Lisburn could be a fantastic shopping town with a bit of “thinking outside the box”.

Having returned from a few days in Liverpool I would suggest councillors go and have a look at what can be achieved if cars are not the priority and basic maintenance is regular.

The same day I walked round Lisburn I also visited the Island Centre. The gardens and paving there are immaculate - what a pleasure to see, and what a credit to the City.

How come the difference from the area where big rates are paid by shopkeepers?

S Brown

Lisburn Resident for 27 years