Court battle ensues over plans to dismantle Boyne Bridge

John Anderson, vice-chair of UAHS, said the charity must challenge authority

Lawyers representing Translink's parent company have told a built heritage charity that they will seek financial damages if the charity applies for a injunction delaying the removal of the Boyne Bridge in south Belfast.

Work to dismantle the bridge in Belfast city centre is to start on Saturday.

The Ulster Architectural Heritage Society says it still plans to try to stop the work.

Durham Street, which runs across the bridge, will close for a year to facilitate work on the new Grand Central Station.

The current bridge near Sandy Row was reconstructed in 1936, but its origins date back nearly 400 years.

Translink say the work will involve "sensitively dismantling" the bridge.

Drivers will not be able to access Durham Street from Grosvenor Road to Hope Street until the project is completed.

Planning permission was granted for Belfast Grand Central Station by the Department for Infrastructure in March 2019.

In a letter given to the charity, Translink said: “The construction of the transport hub known as "Grand Central Station" is almost complete.

"Any delay in removing the Boyne Bridge will have significant financial implications for the project, currently estimated at approximately £100,000 per week.

"Therefore, any attempt by UAHS to seek an injunction will be met with an application for a cross undertaking in damages.”

William III is believed to have crossed the site on his way to the Battle of the Boyne in 1690

Speaking on Good Morning Ulster, John Anderson, vice-chair of UAHS said the charity must challenge authority.

"We have to…We are a small highly respected charity in our 57th year of operation here and to have a government sponsor and a department behind it, landing us with a threat of £100,000 a week of costs…that’s just amazing."

The charity say the bridge is an important part of the city's history.

Mr Anderson added: "The construction of the deck of this bridge has hundreds and thousands of rivets. Every rivet set by two men and a boy, Harland and Wolff workers.

"The top of the bridge has an art deco design, and beautiful cast iron. It has everything that merits keeping."

A Translink spokesperson said: “We are committed to preserving and celebrating the history and heritage of the area and continue to work closely with the local community to repurpose key elements of the bridge for significant artworks."

Boyne Bridge is to be demolished as part of the new transport hub plans

Mr Anderson disagrees, saying: "It's like saying we'll knock down City Hall and keep the door handles to remember it.

"We have been at this for seven years, we haven’t been listened to despite the fact they talk about community consultation, they only listen to the engineered community views."

The charity say the reason for the delay of an injunction was because they had to wait for a notice from Translink.

"The notice given for this was just a few days ago and to get an injunction you need to know when it is going to happen, it is a reactive thing."

Speaking about court action, Mr Anderson said: "If that’s what they want, that’s what they’ll get."