Former Saintfield Bus Depot to be sold off despite calls for a park and ride says DUP
The former Saintfield Bus Depot is to be sold off and the DUP is appealing for it to be made into parking.
Cllr Callum Bowsie (DUP Rowallane) said, has expressed his concern at the lack of parking space in Saintfield and said: “Saintfield needs more parking.
“Over the last few years the DUP has had meetings with Translink to get them to address this eyesore coming into Saintfield, which they finally agreed to do two years ago.
“The first step was dedicating a section of land for a proper bus lay-by, and this has been finalised. Step two is deciding the future of the main site.
“Translink have finished seeking expressions of interest for repurposing the site by the public sector. No expressions of interest were formally made and therefore the land is set to be sold off, most likely for housing.
“We believe this is a rash decision and ignores our plea over recent years for any re-purposing of this land to put the needs of the existing community first.
“This has consistently been a call by the DUP for a park-and-ride facility to better manage commuter parking in the village.”
Edwin Poots MLA has written to Translink asking for a park and ride to be prioritised. He said: “Saintfield is a commuter town with congestion, parking pressure and no park and ride.
“Government transport policy talks about modal shift and integrated transport, yet a former transport site in Saintfield is being sold on the open market.
“It doesn’t make sense. Once this land is sold, the opportunity is gone forever. Decisions like this should be taken as part of long-term transport planning, not short-term land disposal.”
Michelle McIlveen MLA played a key role in addressing this abandoned site. She added: “While the repurposing of the old depot is welcome, it is vitally important that this strategic section of land is retained to address the chronic parking issue within Saintfield and not put on the open market without a thorough review into connectivity and sustainable travel along the A7.
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