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Planning Proposals for Belfast

26th January 1945
Page 34
Page 34, 26th January 1945 — Planning Proposals for Belfast
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

A Government-appointed Commission is Studying Transport, Housing, Factory Location and Traffic Flow in Northern Ireland, But This. Interim Report Deals With One Important Area

I-1E Interim Report -of the Nanning Commission, constituted in August, 1942, by the Government of

, Northern Ireland, has been published at 2s. 8(1. net. Although the deliberations of the Commission have been concerned with the Province as a whole, the reCommenda

tions now submitted deal with only the County Borough and the adjoining parts of Antrim and Down, referred to generally as the " Belfast Area." This is considered a matter of urgency, as it is here that the greatest new development is likely to occur.

The report is accompaniedby two excellent maps, shbwing the Belfast Area as a whole, and the Central Area with its proposed new and improved reads and other facilities for. transport. Much of the matter, of course, hardly comes within our province, although suburban growth, allocation of industry, housing, etc., all exercise their influence upon traffic and transport. We will, therefore, select certain points in the order in which they, occur, ' As regards the control of haphazard suburban growth, it is now realized that the uncontrolled spread of large cities, especially in the form of ribbon development along the main roads, is uneconomical in the provision of public services, and inconvenient because-of the distance people must travel. Agricultural land is spoiled over a vast area, the town is cut off still further from the country, and transport problems become" insoluble.

It is recommended that roads, railways, waterways and airways should be planned in relation one to the other to secure maximum efficiency, whilst the whole traffic system should be properly co-ordinated with industry, commerce, and.housing, to give the best service.

Industrial efficiency suffers; where factories are scattered in residential and commercial areas, with inadequate road access and little room for expansion. It is suggested that certain areas be zoned for industrial use; road and other services would then be arranged specially for the convenience of the industry, which would be restricted to the special . zones. Most of the existing heavier industry is tied to its pr'esent sites. These older groupings have, therefore, been made the nuclei of the new zones.

As regards new industries, many are likely to be of the lighter kind, dependent mainly upon electric power and road transport; having more freedom of movement, they Should be located away from _the. centre to relieve congestion and make possible a parallel movement of workers from overcrowded areas. Sites have been chosen for these with regard to transport, other; cervices and the allocation of new housing estates.

It is recommended that wherever possible industry should he induced to go to smaller towns outside Belfast.

Travel and Transport Will Crow •

In making proposals to co-ordinate transport in a unified scheme the Commission has in mind the congestion and confusion of pre-war days. It believes that travel and transport,. particularly by road and air, are likely to 'increase

• Considerably. •

As regards Toads, the greatest traffic in the Belfast Area • originates, or has its destination, in or near the centre of the city. . Improvement of. Main routes radiating from the central area is, therefore, of first -importance. In most cases, the roads need Merely widening and straightening. whilst unnecessary crossings should be eliminated. In certain cases. opportuntiies exist greatly to improve the traffic flow by radial departures from existing routes, Theie will be" lost if immediate action be not taken, and in three cases special recommendations are made.

As regards the Antrim Road, the old route should be left below Glengornaley, and anmore.direct one made connecting with the coast road and entering the city via York Street. . The Lisburn Road carries great traffic; and within Belfast it the most To widen it would be exceptionally expensive, and it is, therefore. Suggested that this he linked

to BelfaSt by a route which, after crossing the existing ,Lisburn Road near Flnagby, runs parallel to it on the west side and 'connects with the Grosvenor Road near the Royal Victoria Hospital.

Much fast ttaffic travels through Holywood on the Bangor Road, where a by-pass is urgently needed, but this would te difficult from the point of view of contours, and would injure most desirable residential areas. Therefore, a new road along the sea front is recommended. It should skirt Holywood on the sea side and rejoin the existing Bangor Road beyond that town. It would make use of the existing Sydenham By-pass, which would be extended to Kinnegar. Improvement' of the radial roads from the central area, although essential, would only increase congestion, Unless traffic were encouraged to by-pass in the vicinity of High Street, Royal Avenue and Donegal Place. This is the main purpose of the three ring roads shown clearly on one of the maps.

Three Ring Roads for Belfast The inner ring is primarily for the circulation of passeDger services governed by the distance considered reasonable for people to walk to bus or trolleybus. It will enclose the central shopping and business area, and to relieve traffic congestiem it is considered that all passenger services should be kept to this ring instead of running through the centres. However, no part of this centre is more than three minutes' walk from the ring. In choosing the line, use has been made, so fax are possible, of existing roads, blitzed sites and poor property.

The middle ring, primarily for cars and cOmrnercial vehicles, would -allow a quick journey from one part of Belfast to another without congesting central shopping streets. It has been found possible to use existing streets throughout nearly the whole circuit, but widening will be neceseary as opportunity arises,

The line of the outer ring has been determined largely by the probable future extent of the city and by the contours, which rise steeply, on two sides. At present, most of the suggested course is unobstructed by buildings, and would, in fact, form the boundary of the built-up area. This ring would give quick connection from any radial road to another and provide a ready means for access between new housing estates and other developments. It is a proposal that need tot he embarked upon immediately, for this ring could be constructed Over a number of years; the line, however, should be secured now, In the case of all new arterial roads such as those indi.cated, it is agreed that buildings should not front directly upon them,but be approached from special service road's running parallel to the main roads on one or both sides. Crossings at the same level should be avoided wherever • possible, cross roads being taken under or over, minor roads being sealed off, Where such crossings are impracticable,

welisdesigned roundabouts would ,suffice. •

The greatest defects in the existing railway facilities are the' distance of the I.. MS. Station from the centre, the unfortunate approach to the Belfast and County Down Station via coal quays and the lack of -forecourt to the Great Northern Station. The Commissioners' road. pro • posaIs have, therefore, been designed to improve the situation. There will be direct approach to the.Great Northern, which fronts on to the inner ring road with its public services, and a square for parking and traffic circulation has

4 4

been created 'opposite it. . .

It being assumed that co-operation between the various interests 'will take place of past uneconomic competition, a combined railway and road-transport terminal near Great Patrick -Street is suggested.

To malte possible the 'realization of these recommendations, it is suggested that steps should be taken to set up a Planning or ReconStruction Consmittee of the Belfast Corporation.


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