Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
Shauna Corr

Glider in Carryduff 'will cut down on a lot of traffic' say residents

People on the streets of Carryduff largely believe extending proposals for the South Belfast Glider to their area would "be largely beneficial".

The Department for Infrastructure is still considering public responses to phase two of the Belfast Rapid Transport scheme to extend the service north and south of the city after huge success in the east and west.

In the original proposals, it was suggested the speedy bus service will not be extended to include the suburbs of Carryduff and Glengormley.

Read more: Glengormley residents say Glider extension 'logical'

Belfast Live has now been to both areas to find out what locals thought about their suburbs being omitted from the plan and folks in both areas were largely in favour of the move.

Christine Murtagh, marketing and communications at Let's Go Hydro, said: "Having the Glider route come to Carryduff would definitely encourage a lot of young people obviously with the likes of our activities and aqua park. It would make it a lot easier for them to get to Carryduff.

Let's Go Hydro in Carryduff believe the Glider "would make it a lot easier for" customers to get to there (Belfast Live)

"We get a lot of Americans and Spanish that are visiting Belfast on holidays - it's such a popular attraction. Currently it's quite awkward if you don't drive or you don't have parents to give you lifts. It would definitely make it a lot easier for people."

Claire Hale, who grew up in Carryduff, said extending the Glider to the area "would be really beneficial".

"We are in the commuter belt and there's lots of families, young professionals who would live out this direction especially with slightly lower house prices.

"The benefit of linking the Glider in Carryduff to the centre of Belfast for commuters, I think would be really great to see."

Local man Alan Harris has a different view, however.

He told Belfast Live: "I don't think it should come the whole way up to Carryduff."

Mr Harris said the nearby park and ride has plenty of room and was concerned "if you want to put the Glider bus in the bus lanes" the traffic on the road "is too busy".

Carryduff man Alan Harris (Belfast Live)

"For me it's going to cause more hassle if you have to get emergency services up and [with] people rushing back and forward to get to jobs it's going to cause too much hassle," he added.

Cortina Stewart was also in favour of extending the Glider out to the South Belfast suburb.

"It will cut down on a lot of the traffic," she said.

"I know there's a park and ride further down and I think it would help congestion.. because sometimes as you are going up the road round tea-time, it's a standstill - it's gridlocked.

"I think it might help."

Alliance MLA for South Belfast, Paula Bradshaw, is also in favour of the extension and says she has been contacted by a number of locals keen to see the Glider extended to Carryduff.

Paula Bradshaw, South Belfast Alliance MLA (Belfast Live)

She told Belfast Live: “I think there’s huge anticipation that it will come and a lot of people really would appreciate it if the minister could look favourably upon it.

“There’s loads of people that are really excited about it and I have a list of constituents that have asked me to keep them up to date with progress on it.

“They are the ones that are sitting in the traffic every day that want to be more environmentally friendly in terms of using public transport.

“At the minute the regularity of the bus service doesn’t fit their needs.

“Obviously we are going to have the new redevelopment up in the heart of Carryduff with the new Lidl and associated small businesses,” Ms Bradshaw added.

“There’s just a sense that there’s so many new houses and so many new opportunities coming forward that this would be perfect in terms of ensuring connectivity.

Claire Hale, who grew up in Carryduff, said extending the Glider to the area "would be really beneficial" (Belfast Live)

In terms of hurdles that must be jumped, Ms Bradshaw added: “First of all they will be wondering whether it will be good value for money but what I would say is we have about 1,300 upwards of new houses coming into the area so the population density is certainly there.

“I think the main obstacle will be finding a site where they can do the turning circle - that’s something they will be looking at in terms of the appraisal.

“The other aspect that would be really beneficial, would be the addition of a park and ride facility beside it so people coming in from Saintfield and further afield could really use it as a mechanism to cut down on commuter traffic in the city centre.”

Cortina Stewart believes extending the Glider to Carryduff would end 'gridlock' in the area (Belfast Live)

A Department for Infrastructure spokesperson said: "Departmental officials and our consultants are currently considering the feedback received through the public consultation. This work is well advanced and Minister Mallon has asked that it includes an assessment of alternative route proposals.

"A Public Consultation Report detailing these considerations and assessments will be published when ready. Following this, the Department will further develop the Outline Business Case, which will inform the selection of the preferred route. At this stage, it is too early to provide a timeline for the preferred route announcement."

Read more: Latest on new Glider routes as transport bosses looking at 1,200 responses

Read more: Changes to NI public transport you can expect in 2022

To get the latest breaking news straight to your inbox, sign up to our free newsletter.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.