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Northern Ireland Office;Northern Ireland Roads Service

Answer

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment the roads service has made of the impact of the removal of the planning restriction on the total number of annual passengers using the Belfast city airport on usage and congestion on the (a) Sydenham by-pass and (b) West Link. [209205] Mr. Spellar: The information is as follows: Letter from Dr. Malcolm McKibbin to Lady Hermon dated 21 January 2005: You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question asking what assessment has been made of the impact of the removal of the planning restriction on the total number of annual passengers using the Belfast City Airport on usage and congestion on the Sydenham bypass and the West Link (209205). I have been asked to reply as these issues fall within my responsibility as the Chief Executive of Roads Service. Roads Service has not yet been consulted on any proposal to remove the planning restriction, however, the planning application for the new terminal building and entrance was supported by a Transport Assessment, which provided a detailed analysis of the development's projected traffic impact on the local road network. Any proposed change to planning restrictions that would alter the impact on the road network will be examined to ensure that where necessary, appropriate mitigating measures are provided by the applicant. It should be noted that the Belfast Metropolitan Transport Plan (BMTP) 2015, published in November 2004, is bringing forward proposals that will improve public transport access to the Belfast City Airport, as well as proposals for increasing the capacity of both the Sydenham by-pass and Westlink. I hope this information is helpful.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

209205; 430 c1486-7W

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Belfast Road traffic Roads Belfast City Airport

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk