§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many objections her Department has received to the proposed pedestrianisation of parts of Belfast; from whom they have been received; and what are the main grounds for objection put forward by each objector; [71552]
(2) what instructions she has given her officials in the Roads Service of the Department of the Environment in respect of requests for meetings from organisations of disabled people to discuss the access needs of disabled people in the implementation of pedestrianisation in Belfast. [71554]
§ Mr. Paul MurphyResponsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Roads Service under its chief executive, Mr. W. J. McCoubrey. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from W. J. McCoubrey to Mr. Eddie McGrady, dated 22 February 1999:
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me to respond to your two recently tabled Parliamentary Questions about the Department's proposals to restrict vehicular access to Belfast city centre.First, you asked what instructions the Secretary of State has given to officials in Roads Service in respect of requests for meetings from organisations representing disabled people to discuss the access needs of disabled people in implementing the Department's proposals. The Secretary of State has not given any such instructions. In the 3-year period prior to publication of the Department's proposals Departmental officials held a number of meetings with organisations representing disabled people in an endeavour to reach agreement. The Minister, Lord Dubs, and his predecessor each attended one of these meetings.Secondly, you asked the Secretary of State how many objections her Department has received to the Department's proposals; who they have been received from; and what are the main grounds for objection put forward by each objector. The Department published its Notice of Intention to make the proposed legislation restricting vehicular access to Belfast city centre on 17 June 1998, allowing 28 days for objections and other representations. During the prescribed period 31 objections and 6 letters containing general comments were received. Since then a further 43 representations have been submitted. The objections have been received from a wide range of organisations and individuals, including political representatives. The main ground for objection is that the Department's proposed legislation does not include an exemption to 366W permit Orange Badge holders to drive into and park in the streets within the pedestrian priority area. Other grounds for objection are that:taxis will not be allowed access to the city centre;the proposed seating and shelter provision for disabled people within the pedestrian priority area is inadequate;other modes of access to the city centre do not exist;parking spaces have not been set aside for the exclusive use of Shopmobility Belfast users;the distance between the proposed disabled parking bays and the shops is too great;an alternative 2-tier Orange Badge system is required to cater for the needs of people who are disabled and those who are more profoundly disabled;an overall review of the Orange Badge system is required.I trust the above information is helpful.