We cannot revert to normal traffic pollution in Belfast after lockdown ends

We are asking Belfast City Council to work with the Infrastructure Department to cordon off traffic lanes for pedestrians and allocate addition space for cyclists.

This would create a real opportunity to make walking and cycling safer and social distancing easier.

This is also a chance to explore pedestrian zones and an alternative vision for our city.

Belfast has a serious air pollution problem and is one of the most congested cities across these islands.

More and more people are realising that we cannot simply revert back to our normal once lockdown restrictions have been eased.

Our normal has caused too many problems for our people and place, including in this instance dirty air and bumper to bumper traffic during every weekday rush hour.

That’s not something we are content to simply slip back into.

Malachai O’Hara, Deputy leader Green Party NI