The Comber Greenway (Adjournment Debate)
Channel: Northern Ireland Assembly
Date: 2015-07-01

Robin Newton MLA introduced the debate on Tuesday 30 June 2015: (edited)

"I think that this project potentially has real benefits for the entire community and particular benefits for the east of Belfast city, those parts of the Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council area where it runs through and, indeed, the Ards and North Down Borough Council area. It is referred to as the Comber greenway. I want to refer to it as a starting point in the east of the city at Holywood Arches. It runs from that point through to Comber. It has a seven-mile stretch that is free from all traffic. It runs through some traffic intersections, but those are relatively small, where they cross over a main road. It is also designated as part of the National Cycle Network running from Belfast. It is known as the Comber greenway because it was the Comber railway line at one stage."

"It offers us an opportunity for traffic-free cycling. The better part of it is a stretch of tarmacadam that was laid following the railway surfacing being dug up and major sewerage pipes being laid. It runs from the Holywood Arches, a feature that is starting to develop as a hub in that part of the city. It is a hub that has a large amount of potential. Part of the area is being developed by the East Belfast Partnership and will include in the not-too-distant future, via social investment fund money, a tourism facility, and it will be a focal point within the area. There are other investments planned for that area. They are certainly not major investments in the sense of what government sees but investments that will help to lift the area. So it is the starting point from this side of the city. "

(continues)

"What might the route deliver in the longer term? It has the potential to improve, given that it is brought up to standard. The standard that one might think about is the standard of the Connswater Community Greenway, where the figures indicate huge increases in people using Belfast City Council parks and river walkways, enjoying them to such an extent that some figures show a 73% increase in people going past specific points."

"More people are using the parkway and allowing themselves to exercise, which has implications and benefits for the Health Minister, who I welcome, even though he is sitting on the Back Benches today. The parkway can be used for walking, cycling and jogging, and has the potential to be used by primary and post-primary schools for the study of wildlife and nature, as is happening on the Connswater greenway."

"One of the features certainly of the Connswater greenway and potentially of the Comber greenway is community buy-in. Whether a project is in Northern Ireland, England or America, getting the community to buy into the project is key. That means communication and selling the advantages. Selling the advantages involves looking at the health benefits, the educational benefits and the potential for it to become a community-owned asset, in which the community will invest its time in the early stages of the project, to advise what would be of benefit to the community and how any changes that had to be made would be viewed and, indeed, to ensure overall success in delivering it."

"I was approached today by the BBC about this debate, and they made the point that dog walking in these areas is controversial because of dog fouling. They also mentioned that people have been injured. I know of one gentleman who was knocked off his bicycle when using the Comber greenway and, in fact, ended up with a broken leg. Again, the key is to have areas designated, where walkers can walk, joggers can jog and cyclists can cycle, and you get a harmonious relationship between all three that delivers the benefit."

"I accept that the Regional Development Minister is here tonight and that, if it is to be delivered in the longer term, this project might well need a joined-up approach from various Departments and that there would also need to be a strategic look at the overall benefits."

(Continues)

"The project has the potential to not only realise the Northern Ireland cycling strategy and the Belfast Active Travel strategy, but to make a major contribution to the health and well-being of our people, to the recreation of our people and to the development of business potential and offer something to those who live in that area and further afield. That would be a major flagship project."

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