The Infrastructure Minister provided an update this week on plans for the long-awaited North to South Belfast Glider. However, many have been left disappointed as it was announced the service would not extend out to Glengormley and Carryduff.
In October 2022, then Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd announced the preferred South Belfast route would go from City Hall, up the Ormeau Road and Ravenhill Road, then onto Carryduff. The North Belfast route would run from City Hall, before continuing up the Antrim Road to Glengormley.
However, it was not deemed "economically viable" to extend the scheme into Glengormley and Carryduff at this time, Minister Liz Kimmins announced this week. In Glengormley, congestion within the area and a pending public realm scheme were also put forward as to why the scheme would not be feasible.
Read more: Plans to turn roundabout into traffic lights for South/North Belfast Glider
Read more: The new Glider route, how much it will cost and when it is set to be operational
Following the news, we took to the streets of Glengormley to see what residents think now that the Glider will not be travelling through the area.
One woman, who uses the Glider service from the city centre to the Royal Victoria Hospital on a regular basis, said: "The Glider is much easier to get up the Falls Road than using the old number 10 bus. I think it would be better if it did come out through Glengormley, then go up to a turning circle like the tram used to years ago."
She added the area needs a better transport system shooting off from the town centre, noting difficulties in reaching the local leisure centre due to a lack of services. She explained: "They need to make accessibility for the Valley Leisure Centre. The reason I use the leisure centre on the Shore Road is because of accessibility. The transport down to the local leisure centre [Valley] is every two hours, and I don't drive, so you need something more convenient."
Macie, who works at nearby restaurant Madame Pho on the Antrim Road, said the Glider is needed in the area. "I think it would be better if it came right through Glengormley - it's a town, more people would get on it," she explained.
"I don't drive so it's a shame I can't get the Glider, as it would've been a massive help for me to get places. I think the Glider would be needed here - it would be needed everywhere. I think it's faster than buses."
Aidan is blind, and told us he relies on public transport services to get around day-to-day. He said the Glider would have been a big help, but said he can see why it wasn't feasible due to regular traffic congestion in the area.
He said: "As a blind person, I can't drive due to my eyesight so need to use buses and trains for my every day transport to get to shops, my house, and everywhere I need to go.
"I think it would be a good idea for the Glider to come up through Glengormley, but think it would be bad for traffic in the area. For blind or visually impared people like myself, it would be a good idea as it would help get places slightly quicker than other buses."
Video by Belfast Live videographer Harry Bateman.
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