Convoy of tractors causes traffic disruption in Belfast

A slow-moving convoy of tractors has caused traffic disruption in Belfast as several fuel protests are expected to be held in Northern Ireland.

The region’s health minister Mike Nesbitt has asked protesters not to block roads, warning that the lives of those seeking medical treatment could be put at risk.

Traffic clogged up on the Sydenham bypass near Belfast City Airport around noon, hours after passengers were warned there may be traffic disruption and to leave more time for travel.

Tractors travelled down the bypass in the direction of Bangor towards City Airport, with some cars undercutting them on the cycle route to get past on the inside.

A PSNI spokesperson said: “Police are advising of delays leaving Belfast country-bound on the Sydenham by-pass due to slow moving traffic.

“Road users are advised to avoid if possible and to leave extra time for their journey.”
Mr Nesbitt said he would be concerned if roads were blocked.

He said: “Just engage in legitimate legal protest.

“Today, as is the case every day, there will be well over 100,000 engagements or interactions between the HSC and the public.

“Thousands and thousands of them depend on the workforce getting from A to B, or for patients or service users getting from B to A in a timely manner.

“Ultimately, the logic to that is disruption threatens life.

“My plea is let the health and social care system work as it is supposed to work.”
Ulster Unionist leader Jon Burrows said there should be an emergency meeting of the Stormont powersharing Executive to discuss rising fuel prices.

He said: “When people block roads for whatever purpose, it has a lot of unintended consequences.

“Right now there will be emergency services who will struggle to get to calls, there will be key workers who will not be able to get to work.”
Mr Burrows added: “I understand the concern about the cost of fuel, about the cost of living crisis, but we need to have calm leadership and cool heads.

“I would ask the people involved in blocking roads to stop.

“This Executive needs to stand up and deliver in terms of convening an emergency meeting to decide what we are going to do about the cost-of-living crisis.”
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The Belfast disruption comes after similar demonstrations south of the border disrupted fuel supplies, port operations and traffic in city centres and on motorways for a week.

Although blockades at Ireland’s only oil refinery and elsewhere were cleared at the weekend, smaller protests continued on motorways around Dublin on Monday – and a protest is due to be held at Leinster House on Tuesday, to coincide with a confidence vote in the government.

Social media posts have called for similar fuel protests at several locations in Northern Ireland on Tuesday.

First Minister Michelle O’Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly last week wrote to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer urging him to bring forward a package of support measures for people in the region.

They asked Westminster to look at reducing fuel duty, targeted support for hauliers, farmers and small and medium enterprises, and a ⁠comprehensive cost-of-living support package.

The cost of petrol, diesel and marked gas oil (“green diesel”) has soared since the war in Iran.

The US and Israel began bombing Iran on February 28, after which the Iranians began an effective blockade of vital trading route the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting energy and fuel supplies.