Commenting on the development, Cllr Muir stated “After lobbying Belfast Harbour Police for months I have secured agreement to keep the gates into Belfast Harbour Estate open every evening and also at weekends with a new access point soon to be created for cyclists and pedestrians.
“Previously this gate was closed all day Sunday. The new arrangement has been trialled and it has been agreed to keep the gates open on a permanent basis with a new access point on the horizon for cyclists and pedestrians.”
Continuing, Cllr Muir stated: “I am very grateful to Belfast Harbour Police for their efforts to facilitate cyclists and pedestrians. I am very pleased they have made this cycle route much more accessible. Opening the gates is another useful development putting the wheels in motion towards the creation of a bicycle friendly Borough. Cyclists can now easily make their way along this route and then to Belfast via Airport Road rather than having to compete with many other vehicles on a busy road.”
Concluding, Cllr Muir, who is also a Sustrans Cycling Ranger, remarked: “Over the last few months I have been leading change to make North Down a bicycle friendly Borough. North Down urgently needs connected with the National Cycle Network which covers over 800 miles linking nearly every town across Northern Ireland.
“With the Harbour gates now opened, the next key challenge is the full upgrade of the North Down Coastal Path to Sustrans standards to accommodate cyclists. Large sections of the path have already been upgraded but the wheels need to be put in motion to upgrade other more tricky sections near Rockport School and Seahill. I will continue to lobby for funding to ensure the scenic Coastal Path becomes a key cycling corridor linking Bangor and Holywood with the rest of the network”.
ENDS