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East Belfast News: Comber Greenway Launched
A major advertising campaign is underway to inform
local residents that the Comber Greenway is now completed and
available for enjoyment. It is anticipated that the old
Belfast to Comber railway line, will provide a safe environment
for pedestrians and cyclists alike.
This new seven mile 'leisure facility' stretches from Dee
Street in the East of Belfast and passes through areas such as
the Beersbridge Road, North Road, Sandown Road, Knock Road,
Kings Road as it winds towards Dundonald and on to Comber.
With 150,000 people living in the vicinity of the new walkway
it is likely to become a popular attraction to schools, clubs
and families in both summer and winter months.
Unfortunately, bad news follows good with the threat of this
new facility being sacrificed to make way for a new Belfast
Rapid transport link. A local MLA recently indicated that the
Minister responsible for reviewing this proposed scheme,
following the public consultation, still favours using the old
Comber line for future traffic needs and that the battle could
well be lost.
However, local campaigns are building momentum from various
stakeholders including nature enthusiasts, concerned residents
and local politicians. The Ministers decision will be announced
in due course, in the meanwhile why not use and enjoy this grand
new facility.
Editorial
Having listened to the arguments offered from the DRD
regarding the new transport proposals and to local politicians on this matter, it
remains our view that regardless of the public consultation,
there has always existed a bias in favour of using the Comber railway
line for transport regardless of the consultation.
Ballyhack.co.uk will be using the FOI to investigate this story
further. Ballyhack.co.uk also takes the view that in a time
when money is tight in many families and when politicians are
saying that people will die this winter as they balance the
pennies in order to eat or heat, that advertising an existing
walkway at vast expense, is tasteless. Despite having launched
the Greenway and advertising that you can now walk the 7 mile
route from Belfast to Comber, we found the route was not fully
open yet and remains closed at the Comber Road / Old Dundonald
Road junction (valid at time of publication 15th Nov 08). As
such the advertising and its associated cost is wasted, money
that will join the millions wasted should this Greenway be used
as a new transport link.
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