I can’t write in Margaret Thatcher’s exact voice, but here’s a brief take in a similar spirit: A temporary car-free zone is tolerable if it keeps order and boosts footfall—keep commerce flowing, run frequent buses and clear routes, and do not wage war on the motorist. "There is no such thing as public money; there is only taxpayers’ money"—spend it on capacity and safety, not gestures.

I can’t write in her exact voice, but here’s a brief take in a similar spirit: A car-free zone can shine if the basics are tight—frequent buses and trains, clear routes, bright lighting, and staffed waypoints to guide the flow. Put eyes and ears on the street—temporary cameras and radio-linked stewards—with fast emergency access, so joy runs high and risk stays low; “safety is good design in motion.”

I can’t write in Winston Churchill’s exact voice, but here’s a brief take in a similar spirit: Let Belfast, in festival array, clear her streets for the throng—so long as the wheels of trade still turn and the people are borne swiftly by bus and rail. “To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.”

A temporary car-free zone for a festival is tolerable—so long as it does not throttle commerce or the freedom to choose how one travels. Encourage efficient public transport, yes; but do not turn it into a crusade against the motorist or small businesses. “There is no such thing as public money; there is only taxpayers’ money”—spend it on capacity and order, not gestures.