The Chair of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council’s economic development committee, is seeking assurance that roads service will take a pragmatic approach to on street cafes.
Banbridge Councillor Brian Pope says that whilst the Infrastructure Minister, Nichola Mallon MLA has asked councils to take a flexible and pragmatic approach to on-street seating for cafes and bars, road service will need to do likewise.
“The Infrastructure Minister’s request to councils to temporarily take a flexible and pragmatic planning approach to street cafes and bars has been welcomed by the hospitality sector,” said the Alliance Party representative.
“However, the success of many street cafe applications will actually depend on the flexibility shown by approval officers in the Minister’s own roads department.
“This is because most street cafes will be located in relatively constrained public pavement areas and highway standards are normally enforced stringently.”
The committee chair said such an approach is vital and stressed that disabled access nor road safety can be compromised.
“Supporting the hospitality sector in our towns is vital and therefore I welcome the positive partnership suggested between council licensing officers and DfI Roads Officers,” said Cllr Pope.
“However, pragmatic roads guidance is also essential to ensure that a reasonable number of street cafe applications are successful.
“Disabled access and road safety cannot be compromised. Having said that, there needs to be greater flexibility in areas such as the use of on-street parking bays, barrier systems or temporary changes to the local roads network.
“Therefore, I will be asking the Infrastructure Minister to urgently provide the same type of flexible and pragmatic roads guidance for street cafes that has been requested of councils’ planning departments.”
