New housing development to bring about new privately funded bus route amid concerns of child safety
A new Carryduff housing development is to bring about a new privately funded Belfast City centre bus route amid concerns of child safety.
Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council signed off on the plans for the Barons Grange designs, with the overall Fraser Homes Ltd development in the area to reach almost 500 homes.
However, a Lisburn councillor raised the potential for road dangers following a recent incident in the district.
A spokesperson for the applicant said: "This will provide a pedestrian link to the development at Barons Court through to Carryduff Park, it is an important element of the proposal.
“To address concerns of residents a new bus route to Belfast City centre has been agreed with Translink and will be funded by Fraser Homes and implemented by Translink.
“The housing strategy on the local development plan, identifies Carryduff to accommodate 1,547 new homes, with this application for 113 homes making a meaningful contribution.”
Councillor Pat Catney said: "Just recently I have been called out to a development where a young child was injured in an accident in Thaxton. And I have no doubt it was to do with on street parking.
“I see there are 53 parking spaces off street, is there any way that we can enforce that parking is not on street because that creates dangers.”
Councillor Jonathan Craig added: "I can foresee issues with the main junction on the Comber Road, which will cause delays at peak times.
“It is a shame that some sort of traffic lights were not considered for there.”
A council officer responded: "There is a pedestrian network throughout the development and access to public transport. “Department for Infrastructure in the Creating Places document, would tell us that it is actually safer for people to park on the road, particularly visitors as it slows down traffic…as drivers will be slower and have to think more about what they are doing. “Contrary to the normal expectation that it might obscure somebody’s view of a child crossing the street they should be travelling at a much lower speed in what is a traffic calmed street. “The scheme is therefore considered safe for both for road users and pedestrians.”