Belfast Council is to look at turning the Rosetta area in East Belfast into a 'Quiet Way' - looking at issues of congestion, air quality, commuter traffic and road safety.
A motion by SDLP Councillor Séamas de Faoite to create a 'Rosetta Way' was tabled at the recent Belfast City Council Standards and Business Committee meeting, and will be discussed at the April meeting of the full council.
The motion states: “Belfast City Council recognises that many neighbourhoods across the city suffer from the blight of congestion, poor air quality, commuter traffic, under investment in active travel measures and road safety issues.
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“The council has already expressed its support for measures like School Streets and Low Traffic Neighbourhoods as well as the creation of a 'Quietway' linking Lagan Gateway to Cregagh Glen, through Cherryvale Playing Fields.
“(It) believes that a Quietway through Rosetta - a 'Rosetta Way' - along with associated measures like active travel infrastructure, reduced speed limits, the closing up of rat runs, and the installation of tree pits as chicanes could all help to reduce congestion, poor air quality, commuter traffic and road safety issues.”
The motion proposes to write to the Stormont Department for Infrastructure seeking an update on the agreed puffin crossing on the Knockbreda Road which is planned to facilitate the opening of the pedestrian gate into Cherryvale.
It further proposes to ask the Department for Infrastructure to draw up an action plan, in consultation with the council and relevant local organisations and residents, to deliver the Rosetta Way.
Councillor de Faoite said at the Standards and Business Committee a number of councillors had an interest in the motion and had been involved in work around the crossing due to be installed on the Knockbreda Road.
He said: “This is a follow on from that. We successfully made the proposal in 2020 around establishing a new Quiet Way between Cherryvale and Cregagh Glen on one side, and the Stranmillis Gateway on the other. It asks the Department for Infrastructure to recognise that proposal further and begin to engage with residents on some of the proposals around it.”
Sinn Féin proposed the committee accept the motion without referring it to the full council for discussion. This proposal failed with six votes in support and 11 votes against.
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