A local councillor has said that more practical action has to be taken to regenerate a major gateway street "left to rot" in Belfast city centre.
Green Party councillor Brian Smyth has mirrored the frustration of business owners on North Street, one of the city's main thoroughfare routes, who feel the area has been allowed to become "abandoned" and "neglected".
Just a few yards away from the bustling Cathedral Quarter, the North Street area is marked by 'crumbling buildings', empty businesses, graffiti and anti-social behaviour. Brian told Belfast Live that he is determined to work on behalf of the North Street businesses at the council to make the area a safer and thriving space.
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He said: "We are here at a point because maybe over the past 10 to 15 years, decisions made at the planning committee have sold councillors these big visionary projects but there has never been any delivery of them and we are here now where we see large parts of the city centre in limbo.
"Large parts of the city centre have been land banked by property developers for years and they are not moving. We need to be pushing these developers to maintain and keep these buildings safe.
"I do believe that we have let things slide for years so, from my point of view, we need to be looking at ways we can help businesses in a practical sense around things such as lighting - it is giving people a sense of safety in their city."
Barry Rylands, Manager of The Deer's Head on Lower Garfield Street, described the area surrounding his business as a "monstrosity" and feels disappointed that he has not noticed any improvements to the area since opening 13 months ago.
Barry said: "The state of the whole area- North Street, Garfield Street, Writers Square - it's so run down. It's been totally neglected and the council don't come near it and it's absolutely terrible.
"The buildings are actually starting to crumble and all it will take is someone walking underneath to get killed. There is no lighting and we are about to go back into winter nights again and we are left in the dark.
"They are about to start the £100 million project at the bottom of the street here at the Bank of Ireland building so the main thoroughfare down to it will be Royal Avenue or North Street - are we going to have this showcase building and people having to go past that monstrosity outside."
With unfinished projects, derelict buildings and a lack of street lighting attracting anti-social behaviour to the area, Barry feels that the potential of North Street is being ignored to the detriment of the businesses operating on the street.
"Who wants to be walking around half this city, it is embarrassing - not only as someone trying to run a business but as a ratepayer too," Barry added. "I'd like to see developers actually doing something.
"They've held the city for ransom for so long and enough is enough. Make them spend the money or let someone else come in and clean up our town and get it to what it really should be."
Brian continued: "I've heard from people that when Primark went down, a light died in this part of town and I know that Primark is going to reopen soon and that is to be welcomed but it is almost like the city centre is now cut in half. As an elected political representative of this city, I think we need to be more attuned to businesses such as The Deer's Head is saying.
"The Deer's Head has come in here over the last year and breathed life into a part of the city that has effectively been abandoned and left to rot. They are paying a phenomenal amount of money in rates and employ 30 people so we are seeing the economic benefit of them being here so as a council, we should be asking ourselves if we are meeting and supporting these businesses.
"It feels like we are fighting for the heart and soul of this place because if we can work together to revive the city centre, it is going to bring a lot of prosperity for jobs, people coming in. I keep hearing people talk about tourists - see if we get this right for the people of this city centre first, everything will follow."
Brian explained that the council are currently looking at identifying buildings as part of the Cleansing Task Force in the Shaftsbury Square/Great Victoria Street area to put pressure on property owners to maintain them. He has asked the council to extend the scheme to include North Street, Lower North Street and Lower Garfield Street.
"I love this city, I'm from this city. City centre was my escape as a kid - getting out of the New Lodge and coming into town for a few hours and I think we have a duty to reimagine it," he added.
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