By Sarah Curran
CONWAY Square in Newtownards has been pedestrianised, following the erection of bollards.
Following lobbying by Newtownards Chamber of Trade, the Department for Infrastructure has placed bollards around Conway Square in an attempt to control traffic and protect pedestrians.
Speaking favourably about the move to pedestrianise the area, Chamber president Derek Wright said: “There has been a big problem where there has been a lot of anti-social parking. “People had been driving around and using Conway Square which was always intended to be a pedestrian area.”
Mr Wright said the issue of pedestrianising the area had been ongoing for 12 years, with DfI ultimately in charge, as the area is classed as a road.
He continued that the bollards were placed as a ‘hard close’ to the town square, joking that it was the closure of the ‘largest free car park in Newtownards’.
“The DfI closed it because there has been damage to the surface and concern for public safety with so many vehicles having used it,” Mr Wright said, noting how over 20 cars have often been parked in the square during the day.
“The Chamber has been working on behalf of the businesses because it has been causing some frustration with some of the businesses where the cars are parked outside and they are getting in the way of deliveries and customers.”
Mr Wright said the Chamber welcomed DfI’s decision to place the bollards around the square and said there were plans in place for parking bays at High Street for loading and off-loading goods, adding that there was ‘ample car- parking in Newtownards’.
“This is just going to cause a bit of a change with how deliveries are being brought to the square to the shops,” he added, noting that many of the square shops had rear access.
“It is different and straightaway and it has changed the whole outlook of the square with it being much tidier looking and it is much safer for our families, so we welcome that,” Mr Wright said.
Also welcoming the move, Ryan Mayne, branch manager of Peacocks Newtownards, said he had a positive response from customers about the bollards installation.
“We have had a lot of customers say they felt a lot safer, especially those with young kids – being able to let them have a run about and play.
“I have also had a few say it was nice to get the pictures of Paddington without all the cars in the background. “Personally I think it makes the town look a lot better and lets the flow of pedestrians go around a lot easier.”
