Ulster Unionist Regional Development spokesperson, Adrian Cochrane-Watson MLA, has called for money raised through fines paid by those caught driving in bus lanes in Belfast City centre, to be channelled immediately into front-line public services.
Mr Cochrane-Watson said:
“At this morning’s Committee for Regional Development, we heard from the Department that since June this year, around £500,000 has been raised through fines paid from people caught driving in bus lanes in Belfast City Centre.
“We know only too well the difficulties faced by Danny Kennedy due to inadequate budget settlements. The failure to bring forward June monitoring has heaped massive pressure on the ability of the Department to deliver key services such as repairing street lights and grass-cutting.
“The money raised could amount to more than £2.5m per annum and it seems only sensible to immediately channel the money already raised into front-line public services. I hope that this will be one of the first decisions the new Regional Development Minister will take when she returns to office.”