A Stormont department has dashed hopes for additional funding for night-time public transport services in Belfast, leaving councillors at City Hall expressing their "disappointment" and "frustration".
Previously, as part of the Belfast Agenda, the city's community plan, both Translink and the Department for Infrastructure had supported the idea of extending the operating hours of Metro and Glider bus services into the night. "They should either stand on their own two feet and not keep asking for Government handouts. Maybe it's time for a new man at the helm that can make it work even if it is only a weekend service. It's called forward planning.”
Paul R Cpr points out: “It would be empty, that’s why there isn’t one and the cost of getting the staff back to their starting point needs to be taken into consideration also.” Paul R Cpr says: “When will people realise you cannot fix the night-time economy of a city when it is closed to night time business. The alcohol restrictions need to be brought into line where sales can be 24 hours and bars and clubs can have a 4am licence.
Alex Simpson agrees: “Utter joke, you can't get a taxi and they charge £20 for a 3 mile journey. Cut the unused day time off peak services with 3 people on them and run a proper night time public transport service.” Simon Aldworth adds: “We are so behind the times it's embarrassing.”