To ask the Minister for Infrastructure for an update on the Stranmillis Embankment pedestrian and cycling improvement scheme, Belfast.

Ms Kimmins

Work to upgrade the eastern footway and cycle track on Stranmillis embankment commenced on 27 January this year and is expected to take approximately 15 weeks. It is a sizeable investment to upgrade our existing cycling infrastructure in Belfast, with investment from my Department of £580,000. I recognise the value of maintaining the route to a high standard to ensure that the facilities remain attractive to users. It is one of the most important cycling routes in Belfast, connecting the north and south of the city, through the Lagan towpath, the riverside path and the M2 foreshore. It is one of the first schemes to benefit from new intuitive red surfacing and splayed kerbs to increase safety and the usable width for cycling. The footway reconstruction will also significantly improve the pavement surface for pedestrians along the route.

Ms Kimmins

The Lagmore Avenue scheme is programmed to start on site in the coming weeks. The west Belfast greenway phase 1A is also programmed to start very soon — sorry, I have lost my train of thought. The joys of technology. It is dependent on land acquisition being finalised. There are other schemes for which the design is substantially complete, and officials are preparing traffic regulation orders for statutory consultation. Design work is ongoing for the majority of the other schemes on the short-term list in the Belfast cycling network delivery plan, and the public will be informed through upcoming engagement events as scheme designs progress.

Mr O'Toole

I welcome our year 11 students from Methody, as Kate said. I welcome the upgrading of any cycle lane, and the one on the Stranmillis embankment is well used. However, it is an existing embankment that is well used, and we are spending scarce resources closing it down, when there are other active travel opportunities in South Belfast. I think about additional cycle lanes on the Ravenhill Road or the Carryduff greenway. Is it the best use of half a million pounds to update what is already a very well-used and popular cycle and running track when there could be other demands in the constituency?

Ms Kimmins

The Member has potentially answered his own question, because, given that it is so well used, it is important. It has been surveyed, and it is important to those who use it to invest in maintaining our existing pedestrian and cycling facilities to ensure that infrastructure remains safe, effective and attractive to users as we continue to encourage that behavioural shift towards walking, wheeling and cycling. As the Member alluded to, the cycle track at the Stranmillis embankment has been in place for over 25 years, and this is the first time that this level of investment has been required. The surface of the existing footway has deteriorated to the extent that sections may present difficulties to pedestrians, especially those using mobility aids or prams. Patching repairs have been carried out in the past, but the current investment will upgrade the facilities along the route for pedestrians and cyclists for many years to come. It is an important part of the work that we do, but it does not take away from the need for the further new schemes that we are committed to delivering across the North, not just in Belfast.

Miss Brogan

Does the Minister have a plan for reaching the commitment to spend 10% of our transport budget on active travel?

Ms Kimmins

I am still here. Just give me a second. Yes, I am committed to increasing investment in active travel. I have to do that, if we are to meet the requirements of the Climate Change Act 2022. In addition to the delivery of active travel projects, my Department routinely invests in existing pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, as we have discussed. Work is ongoing to analyse the overall transport budgets and identify all areas of departmental spend from which pedestrians and cyclists benefit. When that analysis is complete, it will allow my Department to report a comprehensive position of overall active travel spend against the requirements of the Climate Change Act.