£ 200,000 support plan for Sandy Ro Traders

A £ 200,000 funding plan is being planned to support businesses in the Sandy row area of ​​South Belfast.

Stormont community minister Gordon Leone has offered money to Belfast City Council for the plan, understanding BBC News Ni.

Traders have expressed concern over footfall due to the closure of Boyne Bridge and Roadworks around the new. Grand Central Station Public Transport Center.

The Communities Department (DFC) said that the minister has approved the “revolution scheme” for “improvement in commercial premises in the sand line area”.

The step follows the Municipal Councilors supporting the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) proposal to set up a task force in an attempt to support traders.

It is understood that the details of the “revival scheme” are still being developed, but it is expected to include grants to the affected businesses.

Boyne Bridge, which runs with Durham Street, was closed in October last year and Work to remove it The next month started.

For the issues of traffic congestion in the run-up for Christmas, its shutdown was convicted.

There were protests Call for compensation against its demolition, as well as for businesses.

Some Sandy row traders addressed a council meeting in December to underline the issues, one said it was “worse than Kovid”.

DUP Councilor Tracy Kelly, who proposed to create a task force, told a council committee that the decline in footfall for businesses was “very related”.

He said that he did not believe that he was not going to make some interference if he was going to make it “.

The head of the public transport operator Translink told a Stormont Committee last month that DFC was setting up a work group to help the businesses.

Chris Conve said that he would be “supported to ensure that his footfall becomes normal as soon as possible”.

The DFC said in a statement that the DUP minister had decided to approve a revival scheme for Sandy Row region before the future public realm scheme.

A spokesperson said the revival schemes “generally follow from the distribution of public scope schemes”.

He said, “In connection with the negative impact being felt by businesses on Sandy Row, the minister has approved the distribution of a revival scheme in the Sandy Row area ahead of the proposed DFC Public Realm Works,” he said.

“The scheme will be given by the Belfast City Council to improve the business premises in the Sandy Row area and under the funding department, which is receiving a formal application for funding and business case evaluation.”

A spokesperson of the Belfast City Council said: “The revival for the council region continues to join the department for the proposal of funding funds. The scheme details have not yet been finalized.”