Disability rights activist wants cobbles removed from city centre

COBBLES in one of Northern Ireland’s busiest tourist and nighttime areas should be removed, a disability rights activist has said.

Last week, a number of cobbles in Hill Street in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter were temporarily tarmacked after Phoenix Gas carried out work.

The company said they would be replaced by the middle of this month, but Dermot Devlin, who sits on Fermanagh and Omagh District Council’s accessibility and inclusion group, believes they should be removed permanently.

Mr Devlin said the uneven surface causes issues for wheelchair users and the visually impaired.

“I do think, particularly in a builtup tourist area like that, the cobbles need to be done away with,” he said.

“I saw the comments about how it was going to ruin the aesthetics and the stuff about modernisation.

“Sometimes when things go too modern, it takes away the character of a town or city, but at the same time, it shouldn’t be to the disadvantage of disabled people.

“I was at an event not that long ago in Belfast, and with me being in a powered wheelchair, it was extremely difficult to go on the cobbles, especially on a wet evening.

“They can cause the wheels to get stuck between the cobbles and I could be thrown from the wheelchair and be injured or harmed.

“People with visual impairments could find it difficult to navigate through with their sticks, or the walking cane could get trapped. With a smooth surface, these problems could be eradicated.”

Mr Devlin added that the work of the accessibility and inclusion group had helped the council to plan for more accessible tourists spots within its jurisdiction.

“It would make it more inclusive; 25% of people are disabled and to not have that part of the city accessible for that percentage of the population is non-sensical,” he said.

“Any time areas that don’t have some features like lifts, I keep getting told it is a historical building and they’re limited in what they can do to keep its aesthetic.

“But when you go to Belfast City Hall, you wouldn’t notice any accessibility equipment, but it’s there.

“When you come to the doors, they open automatically. There are lifts and you wouldn’t know they were lifts because they are designed to fit in with the surroundings.

“It just takes a bit of imagination and ingenuity to combat the problem. The Department for Infrastructure needs to speak to disabled people to find out their views.

“If you want to build a more accessible realm, it needs to be in co-design with the population that’s going to be using it.”

The Department for Infrastructure said there were no plans to remove the cobbles.

“The department is committed to respecting rights for all and regularly consults with groups such as the Inclusive Mobility and Transport Advisory Committee and the Royal National Institute of Blind People when designing new schemes and projects to ensure accessibility,” said a spokesperson.

“However, as Hill Street is within a conservation area of Belfast, there are no plans to replace the cobbles.

“The department will continue to inspect the area to ensure the cobbles are maintained in a safe manner.”