Council buy over of former Co Down bus depot could solve parking problems in Saintfield
A potential council buy over of a former Co Down bus depot could solve parking problems in the town of Saintfield it has been claimed but the timetable for any purchase is running out.
The Saintfield site is due for split development amid concerns housing is being made a priority over the local community’s travel needs.
And a DUP councillor has now urged the local authority to seize the chance to buy up the Translink land to relieve a “chronic” parking problem in the village.
Bringing forward a motion in chambers, Councillor Callum Bowsie said: ”This council recognises the chronic lack of parking in Saintfield and the impact this has on a flourishing high street.
“The sole off-street carpark on Downpatrick Street has merely 66 spaces and is at full capacity most days, causing parking problems elsewhere in the village.
“The former Saintfield bus depot on the Belfast Road has the potential to create 42 much-needed additional parking spaces in Saintfield.
“Translink has agreed to sell this 1/3-acre site to the council.” The Belfast Road depot was previously used for a bus service linking Downpatrick to Belfast with part of the site functioning as a horse riding business and later as a car wash.
The site at the entrance to the village has now been closed down for over a decade.
Councillor Bowsie’s motion adds: “This offer will be honoured until the end of August, before the site is put onto the open market.
“This council agrees to buy this last remaining brown-field site in Saintfield for the purposes of creating additional public car parking to meet local community needs.”
Council chairperson Glyn Hanna (DUP) sent the motion to the Strategic Finance Working Group, which is due to be held on Tuesday.
Landowner, Translink has now confirmed it is seeking a dual development for the site, but has kept its plans for sale under wraps.
A spokesperson said: “We are working with the Department for Infrastructure to re-purpose the former Saintfield bus depot site, in order to create an enhanced bus layby and improvements to the footway at this location.
“A section of the site will be sold.”