Belfast chagrin as Lisburn moves to muscle in on Christmas trade
An unseasonal spat has developed between two of Northern Ireland’s largest city’s after Lisburn attempted to capitalise on recent traffic chaos in Belfast.
Much to the chagrin of those in the capital Lisburn recently launched a tongue-in-cheek advertising campaign which urged shoppers to avoid the hassle of driving through its bigger neighbour by shopping there instead.
The campaign has harnessed a number of large billboards on commuter routes into Belfast as well as on the city’s Translink bus network.
It follows introduction of a number of bus lanes in the city which saw traffic grind to a halt throughout September.
Allen Ewart, chairman of Lisburn City Centre Management (who run the campaign), told the Belfast Telegraph: “You don’t sit back and do nothing,”
“All cities and towns are having difficulty with the economic downturn and anything I can do to bring people into Lisburn I am happy to do that.
“I’m interested in the traders in Lisburn. I’m not particularly interested in the traders in Belfast. That is why we targeted the Belfast area.”