Belfast: Plans to pedestrianise Cathedral Quarter street

Hill Street in the Belfast's Cathedral Quarter contains a number of bars and restaurants

A cobbled street in a popular Belfast nightlife area is to be pedestrianised under proposals by Northern Ireland's roads department.

Hill Street in the city's Cathedral Quarter contains a number of bars and restaurants.

It was previously pedestrianised for a trial period in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The road is to be pedestrianised between its junctions with Gordon Street and Waring Street.

Infrastructure minister John O'Dowd said the proposal would allow service access only to local businesses.

A one-way system from the north end of Hill Street and into Gordon Street would also be introduced under the plans.

The Sinn Féin minister said an "informal consultation" on the proposals was planned for April 2024.

Mr O'Dowd outlined the details in response to a written Northern Ireland Assembly question tabled by Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) assembly member Phillip Brett.

The move follows a public consultation previously being scheduled in 2022.

Green Party councillor Anthony Flynn welcomed the latest pedestrianisation proposals but said it was "unbelievable it has taken this long".

He said on X, formerly Twitter, that it was a way to "make our city centre safe and accessible for people, rather than cars".

Hill Street plan 'makes business sense'

Damien Corr, manager of Cathedral Quarter BID (Business Improvement District), welcomed the proposals.

"Hill Street must be the busiest street in the city at weekends and it is crazy to see vehicles weaving through the crowds," he said.

Mr Corr said pedestrianisation of the street "makes sense in terms of amenity, safety and good health" and "also makes good business sense".

"We would hope that the Hill Street scheme will act as catalyst for the pedestrianisation of more streets in the city," he added.