New Knockmore halt to offer hundreds of parking spaces

This week Councillors Ronnie Crawford, Paul Givan and Arder Carson met Translink to discuss the lack of car parking spaces around Lisburn Train Station.

Mr Givan said Translink representatives had told them the company is looking into the idea of creating a new stop. He said: “Translink informed us they are considering an option that could result in the now redundant further education training college at Knockmore being acquired and developed as a new stop with hundreds of car parking spaces provided. This is a new development that needs to be seriously looked at and Translink say they are going to establish a project team to look into this option.”

Mr Givan said that during the meeting the chronic need for car parking facilities to be provided for passengers using the trains and also to encourage more people out of their cars and onto the trains was discussed. He said: “Currently cars are parked along the North Circular Road and residents in Coolsara and Sepon have major difficulties with traffic congestion as a result of vehicles parked all day in this residential area. The difficult financial climate was raised as an issue and also the lack of available space at the train station is proving very challenging to provide a solution. However the point was made very strongly that Lisburn train station requires investment and solutions need to be found.

“Ultimately whatever options are considered finances will need to be provided to make proposals a reality and along with other political representatives we will work together and make the case for funding to be made available.”

Mr Crawford welcomed the ‘forward thinking’ of Translink but also said more parking in Lisburn is needed. “They have plans for a three storey car park in the Sidings but there is no funding for it. I have been in touch with the Minister Conor Murphy and he confirmed that there were no available funds at present. However I congratulate NI Transport Holding Company (Translink) on their forward thinking in securing a site at Knockmore for a new Lisburn west station which will have adequate parking and will be of great benefit to commuters from Lisburn North and the residents of the future Maze development site.

“The fact still remains that Lisburn station has far less parking spaces than Moira, Lurgan, Portadown and Newry.”

A spokesperson for Translink said: “Translink can confirm that we have indicated our interest in acquiring part of the training college site at Knockmore, subject to valuation and planning.”

This news comes in the same week that plans for priority maintenance work on a section of the Belfast to Dublin railway line have been shelved under the draft budget. As a result, trains may have to observe a speed restriction on part of the line between Lisburn and Lurgan which requires £40m worth of repairs. But the proposed upgrade is not included in the Department for Regional Development’s draft budget.