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Consultants called to resolve 'optical illusion' trip hazard

Brendan Hughes
BBC News NI political reporter
BBC Man wearing a brown teddy material fleece standing in front of an orange temporary barrier along the street. Shops and cars line the other side of the road. BBC
Property manager Adam Goligher said the temporary barrier was "an eyesore"

Stormont officials have commissioned consultants to help address an "optical illusion" along a Belfast footpath that has caused pedestrians to trip and fall.

The kerb on Castle Place in the city centre has been blocked off with a temporary barrier for more than two years.

Businesses and politicians have branded it an "eyesore" and expressed frustration at delays in finding a permanent solution.

Consultancy fees for the project were £11,021 in 2023-24, the Department of Infrastructure (DFI) said in response to a Freedom of Information request.

It also said it was "progressing" plans and would be "engaging with key stakeholders to discuss design proposals".

The streetscape was changed in recent years to add a cycle lane as part of a £52,000 scheme involving the city council and DfI.

But concerns emerged that the drop between the edge of the pavement and the cycle lane was difficult for some people to see.

A temporary barrier was placed along the kerb in January 2023 after an elderly woman suffered facial injuries in a fall.

An orange barrier lines a street. A large building with a clock on top is in the background, in front of this is people walking, street signs and a some bikes which are locked up .
The barrier is close to Bank Buildings in Belfast city centre

Roads officials said an "optical illusion appeared to have been created when the footway was extended next to the cycle lane".

"This resulted in members of the public falling and injuring themselves," they said in correspondence seen by BBC News NI.

DfI commissioned consultants to draw up proposals to redevelop the streetscape and resolve the issues.

A woman in a red coat carrying a white Primark bag is walking in front of an orange barrier. In the background are some shops.
The temporary barrier has been in place for more than two years

'No clear resolution'

Property manager Adam Goligher, from Little Feather Management, described the temporary barrier as "such an eyesore".

"It's a 100m-long reflective orange barrier. It doesn't look nice, and it should be an easy fix," he said.

He said they have put "on hold" plans to install new lighting at nearby Castle Buildings as a result.

"Investing in enhancements feels less effective when such a prominent temporary structure remains in place," he said.

"We encourage the department to engage with local businesses and work towards a prompt resolution, as this issue impacts the overall efforts to improve the area."

Man wearing glasses, a navy coast and light blue knitted jumper. He is standing in front of a telephone box and a fluorescent green convenience shop.
Councillor Gary McKeown says there has been a "complete lack of urgency"

Belfast councillor Gary McKeown, of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), said there has been a "complete lack of urgency".

"It's unbelievable that after two years and over £11,000 of public money being splashed out by the Department for Infrastructure to get some ideas about what to do, still we are stuck with big orange plastic barriers in the heart of our city centre," he said.

A cycle lane which in lined with an orange barrier on the kerb. People can be seen walking on the footpath past some shops.
Councillor McKeown says the area has been left "looking like a building site"

The councillor added that with efforts to encourage people into the city centre, it was "not acceptable that this location still looks like a building site".

"It's an absolute mess, especially when there's wind and the barriers collapse like dominos, creating even more risk," he added.

In a statement a DfI spokeswoman said: "The department placed temporary barriers at this location in response to concerns over pedestrian and cyclist safety.

"We are currently progressing plans to enable a permanent cycle lane to be installed at this location and will be engaging with key stakeholders to discuss design proposals."