New Glider Route Sparks Concerns for Ormeau and Antrim Road Retailers

New Glider Route Sparks Concerns for Ormeau and Antrim Road Retailers

Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd has announced the preferred route for Phase 2 of Belfast Rapid Transit (BRT2), which will see the Glider service extended to north and south Belfast.

The initial phase of the Belfast Rapid Transit Glider service, which launched in 2018, has been a huge success and has helped transform and modernise public transport services in the east and west of the city. It has increased the numbers of people using sustainable public transport on these corridors by 70%.

Concerns

However, some retailers on Ormeau and Antrim Roads have concerns about the new routes.

Retail NI Chief Executive Glyn Roberts said “The Minister has made his decision and we will work with him and his team to progress this scheme.”

“Retail NI produced its own report last year which highlighted concerns of our members about deliveries, potential loss of trade and car parking for disabled shoppers on the Ormeau and Antrim Roads with the new Glider route”

“These issues need to be addressed before work is commenced, and Retail NI is very clear that no small business should be in any way be disadvantaged by the proposed Glider routes.”

“The Infrastructure Minister needs to meet with our members on the Antrim and Ormeau Roads and agree a way forward which will allay their fears.”