A BUSY South Belfast street is to be car-free for one afternoon for a family friendly festival exploring the possibility of the road being pedestrianised in the future.
Botanic Avenue will be transformed from 1-4pm on Sunday, September 18 for the new Open Botanic community festival, which brings together local people from four adjoining neighbourhoods, which form one of the most diverse areas of the city.
This event is part of a wider discussion with Belfast City Council and its Bolder Vision Strategy, which includes plans to redevelop Shaftesbury Square.
The Open Botanic Festival seeks to explore and test the notion of a codesigned shared space connecting four Neighbourhood Renewal communities – Donegall Pass, Sandy Row, Donegall Road and the Holyland area up to Shaftesbury Square.
These community groups are working collaboratively with Queen’s University Belfast students to design a range of kiosks as part of the festival. There will be a temporary cycle path on one side of Botanic Avenue with a range of activities including music, workshops, food, health and community stalls. Businesses in the area have been invited to take part.
Briege Arthurs, CEO of Forward South Partnership said: “We want people from this area to have a say in shaping the future of this part of the city. Often as areas are redeveloped, local voices are not considered.
"There has been significant discussion around making Shaftesbury Square more accessible, safe and friendly and it’s important that people are heard."
Forward South has worked in close collaboration with experts in Architecture and Planning at Queen’s University Belfast. They carried out extensive research into the issues affecting this part of the city last year.
Senior Lecturer Dr Agustina Martire, Dr Laura Michael and a team from Estates and Public Engagement at Queen’s University, published the ‘Open Botanic’ report into the area. Dr Martire explained that this event could be a catalyst for shaping the future of Botanic Avenue and how people will live in a more environmentally friendly and pedestrianised area.
“It’s been eye opening and amazing to work with the community groups. So much is going on in this vibrant space but there’s a perception by local people that they don’t have the power to have a say in their own area. This project is giving them a voice in their future,” Dr Martire said.
“One of the main issues highlighted is a lack of space for people to walk or cycle. Parked cars and heavy traffic leave very little room for people to navigate Botanic Avenue on foot or bike. It’s particularly difficult for people with young children, prams or in wheelchairs.
"Other cities in Europe have begun to pedestrianise busy streets and research has shown that it actually boosts trade and footfall. It’s good for business and it’s good for people,” she said.
The project has been organised by Forward South Partnership in collaboration with Queen’s University Belfast and is supported by the Department for Communities, Northern Ireland Housing Executive, Public Health Agency and Ormeau Business Park.
Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey said: “My Department is delighted to support this event which involves the local community in shaping the future for Shaftesbury Square and the surrounding area.
"The pedestrianisation of Botanic Avenue for this one-day event will provide visible data and an evidence base to inform a co-design process for my Department’s Shaftesbury Square Development Framework. It also serves to complement the ongoing work on the Bolder Vision for Belfast which is a bold new vision for a more vibrant city with less car use and more city centre living.
"I welcome this opportunity to understand more about the needs of the local community for the successful planning of this area and to make it the best it can be for the surrounding communities and local businesses.”
