A heritage society will seek an injunction to halt work that will lead to the demolition of a bridge in the centre of Belfast it believes is architecturally and historically significant.
The Ulster Architectural Heritage Society (UAHS) will be in the High Court at noon on Friday arguing for a “period of reflection” on the future of Boyne Bridge, to be dismantled as part of the wider works around the Grand Central Station.
Durham Street, a key road in the city centre adjacent to the new £340 million station, is set to be closed for up to 12 months from Saturday.
Lawyers for Translink have written to the foundation stating the transport company will countersue for damages if work is delayed on “sensitively dismantling” the bridge, planning permission for which was granted five years ago.
The transport company said the cost of the works on the road is £100,000 a week.
Translink and the Department for Infrastructure are listed as the respondents in the filing for an injunction. The society is questioning what role the department played in the decision by Translink to seek damages if work is halted.
The society is arguing for the “period of reflection” to look more closely at whether the bridge should be listed. It has battled against the removal of the bridge since it was first proposed as part of the wider roadworks in 2017.
John Anderson, the UAHS vice-chair, said the society wants a “hard hat” meeting at the bridge with the Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd whatever happens in the High Court.
While the present bridge was built in 1936, its claimed origins reach back nearly four centuries. It is said King William of Orange rode over a bridge on the site on the way to the Battle of the Boyne.
In a letter to the charity, Translink wrote: “The construction of the transport hub known as ‘Grand Central Station’ is almost complete.
“Any delay in removing the Boyne Bridge will have significant financial implications for the project, currently estimated at approximately £100,000 per week.
“Therefore, any attempt by UAHS to seek an injunction will be met with an application for a cross undertaking in damages.”
John Anderson, vice-chair of UAHS, described the society as a “small highly respected charity in our 57th year of operation here and to have a government sponsor and a department behind it, landing us with a threat of £100,000 a week of costs…that’s just amazing”.
