Seems that after all that hoohah Belfast PH won't be allowed into the bus lanes after all.
Probably of real interest only to legal eagles though. Seems civil servants in Northern Ireland taking decisions under some kind of delegated powers while waiting on appointment of new ministers, but a recent judicial review has put a stop to that, so nothing can be done regarding bus lanes until a new infrastructure minister appointed.
So I suppose Northern Ireland is a bit like a giant council from our perspective, since civil servants and ministers deciding things like access to bus lanes, but obviously the judicial review has put a stop to a lot of the civil servant activity. That was what Unite were complaining about in the June article - lack of consultation, democracy, accountability blah, blah.
Private hire taxis won't be allowed in Belfast bus laneshttps://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/belf ... d-15086540Sinn Fein's Paul Maskey has branded it an ‘act of bad faith and wrong’The Department of Infrastructure has said that private hire taxis will NOT be allowed in Belfast bus lanes.
They issued a statement on Wednesday saying that the decision must be made by an ‘incoming Minister for Infrastructure’.
They said: “The Department recently consulted on an Experimental Traffic control scheme that allowed Class A taxis (private hire) to use Belfast bus lanes for a period of 12 months.
"The Department has considered all all representations received.
“However, the recent Buick Judicial Review judgment clarified the position regarding the decision civil servants can and cannot take in the absence of Ministers.
"It is that judgement which has led the Department to defer the decision of the introduction of this experimental scheme.
“The outcome of the recent consultation and the rationale for an experimental scheme will be put to an incoming Minister for Infrastructure.”
Wheelchair accessible taxis and taxibuses will be allowed in the lanes - as will black taxis.
The Department spokesman added: “Therefore, taxi access to bus lanes in limited to Class B (Wheelchair accessible) and Class D (taxibus) taxis. Bus lanes can also be used by all buses, bicycles, motorcycles and the emergency services.”
Sinn Fein MP Paul Maskey said that the move was an ‘act of bad faith and wrong’.
He said: “The Department of Infrastructure wrote to me in March this year to say that a 12-month experimental scheme will permit Class A taxis to access all bus lanes in Belfast.
“They also said that the experimental scheme should come into operation prior to the commencement of the Belfast Rapid Transit (BRT) services in September.
“I have met with the department frequently on BRT and have tried to work in good faith to ensure that the new system delivers and has the support of local people. In over-turning this decision at the last minute, the department have not delivered on commitments given.
"This approach is both disappointing and frustrating.
“Taxi drivers across Belfast will, in no doubt, be very angry at this decision, they are ordinary working-class men and women trying to provide for their families. Overturning this decision will cause unnecessary problems for them.
“There are still many other issues that need addressed on the BRT route and the Department has been very slow to address them. They need to ensure they are doing all they can to address these outstanding issues and build community confidence in the actions of the department.”
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