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Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Contrasting fortunes of two listed Victorian buildings on same street
On a street in north Belfast, two Victorian buildings with colourful histories sit facing each other. The Crumlin Road Courthouse and the Crumlin Road Gaol have had very contrasting fortunes since they both closed in the 1990s. The jail, which is owned by the Department for Infrastructure, has been transformed into a popular tourist attraction, a conference and wedding venue and is also now home to a whiskey distillery. Meanwhile on the other side of the road the courthouse lies empty and derelict. It has suffered numerous arson attacks and is a shell of its former self, with weeds and trees growing where its roof once was. However, new plans have now been submitted for a mixed-use development which could turn it into a hospitality, tourism, educational and commercial space. Both buildings were constructed in the mid-19th Century and designed by the architect Sir Charles Lanyon. The courthouse has changed hands a number of times since it closed in 1998 but various development plans have failed to get off the ground. Its new owners are hoping their proposals will prove more successful. Their plans include the restoration of the Victorian front of the building and the recreation of one of its courtrooms. A tunnel beneath the road, which connected the courthouse to the jail, would be reinstated and there would be a partial demolition and new build to the rear. Johann Muldoon, from Manor Architects, is involved in the new scheme. "For most of our heritage in Northern Ireland, we see all these proposals, but they really struggle to find a sustainable use that is economically viable," she said. "That is why I think a lot of our heritage seems to degrade." She hopes the mixed use plan for the site might improve its chances. "Why we have those proposed uses is to balance what we've got in terms of heritage offering, in terms of a tourism, against the commercial viability and the sustainability of it all." The sorry state of the courthouse stands in contrast to Crumlin Road Gaol on the other side of the road. Its former inmates included the likes of former Irish taoiseach (prime minister) Eamon De Valera, former Northern Ireland first minister Ian Paisley and IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands. It closed as a working prison in 1996 and is now a popular tourist attraction where the public can visit the cells and learn about its history. Local historian Tom Liggett, who used to give tours of the jail, thinks it is essential that its past is never forgotten. "While there are people who take a stance that all this should be destroyed and you should forget about it, I wouldn't agree with that," he said. "I think local history is told from our perspective - a working-class perspective - and it's hidden and it shouldn't be hidden." Last year a whiskey distillery opened in one of the wings. John Kelly, chief executive of McConnell's Irish Whisky Distillery, was among those behind the development. "A wing lay derelict for many, many years, and we saw the opportunity of bringing the McConnell's story, dating back to 1776, into a wonderful heritage listed building," he said. "For us, it's three parts of the business: it's the brand, it's the distillery and it's a wonderful tourist attraction." So can the courthouse learn anything from its opposite neighbour and should we as a society do more to protect our built heritage? Rita Harkin, the Architectural Heritage Fund's development manager for Northern Ireland, said: "We have to be able to use these buildings to tell our stories. "And that's a reflection of a city and a place that it's grown in confidence, to be able to look honestly at our past to use that to move forward." You can hear more on this story by listening to the latest episode of Red Lines. Belfast's Crumlin Road courthouse fire 'deliberate' The Crum: From conflict to concerts
Belfast Telegraph
26-05-2025
- Belfast Telegraph
Pro-A5 carriageway campaigners urge construction to commence after ‘another family devastated by this road'
Bernadette 'Bernie' Cranley (82) died after the crash on the Mellon Road between Omagh and Newtownstewart on Saturday. The Co Donegal woman's silver Toyota Vitz collided with a blue Suzuki Vitara at around 12.30pm leaving the other female driver, who was in her 70s, seriously injured. The A5 Enough Is Enough group extended condolences to the grieving family of Ms Cranley and pointed to the latest tragedy as a reminder of why the upgrade is needed. 'Another family devastated by this road,' it posted on social media. 'Our thoughts and prayers are also with the lady who was seriously injured in the same accident. 'We are very cognisant of the fact that we are currently waiting on the judge's decision on the latest objection – what more evidence does he need that this objection should be thrown out? How many more people have to die?' Described as one the most dangerous roads on the island, there have been over 50 fatalities on the A5 since 2006. Plans were unveiled by the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) in 2007 to upgrade the route which will require the compulsory purchase of land to construct the new road – the scheme has been delayed by opposition, legal challenges and funding issues. Last October Mr O'Dowd confirmed his intention to proceed with plans to improve the main passage between Londonderry and Aughnacloy as part of a cross-border project to better connect Dublin to the north west region. The Alternative A5 Alliance oppose the project on the basis that its members, as landowners overlapping the proposed roadway, stand to lose as a result of it. More than 3,000 acres sprawled over 300 farms will be impacted by the project. The A5 Alliance delayed its approval in both 2013 and 2018 citing that DfI and its precursor group unlawfully failed to impose a time limit for carrying the scheme. The group has submitted a fresh judicial review against its construction claiming Stormont's targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions have been violated. In March the High Court heard how residents forced to sell their homes as part of the scheme had suffered a violation of their human rights. However, speaking at a press conference for the approval of the project back in October, Mr O'Dowd insisted it will provide the west with 'critically important infrastructure.' "Now we have achieved that, it's about moving towards construction and giving the people of the west, and indeed all of us, proper infrastructure where we can go about and do our daily business and benefit the economy,' the Sinn Fein MLA said. "The project will provide for critically important infrastructure, create jobs, benefit the economy and improve journey times. "We do recognise there are serious safety concerns on that road ahead of the upgrade.'
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Delays to flood prevention scheme 'disappointing'
A woman rescued from her flood-hit home in Londonderry eight years ago has said frustration is growing over delays to a flood defence scheme. On Wednesday, councillors in Derry were told the scheme for the Drumahoe area of the city is now at its design phase. It is expected to cost £5m and will not be completed until next year, councillors were also told. Dawn Grieve said that only added to residents' "frustration and disappointment". "We are no further on and we feel other areas in Northern Ireland are getting much quicker results," she told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme. Mrs Grieve and two young sons, then aged two and four, were in their flooded home in Ivy Mead when they were rescued by tractor in August 2017. At that time almost two-thirds of the north west's average monthly rain fell in a single night. Hundreds of homes and businesses were flooded when record rain fell across counties Derry, Tyrone and Donegal. Further severe flooding caused widespread damage in 2022. Mrs Grieve said residents had been eagerly awaiting movement on the scheme to protect their homes ever since. "Yesterday the only new information, disappointingly, is the £5m cost. The design stage was to be completed by end of 2025, now it is pushed back to 2026," she said. She said that left the start and completion of the scheme in full without a definite timeframe. Mrs Grieve said getting flood insurance was a real problem while "some residents in my area worry about every single rainfall". "We just feel like it is something that could be fixed, this worry could be put to bed once and for all with the installation of this flood defence," Mrs Grieve said. The BBC has contacted the Department for Infrastructure for comment. Seven years and no flood defences 'unacceptable' More than 400 north west homes report flood damage Floods may force club from home stadium More than 100 rescued after NI floods
BBC News
10-04-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Drumahoe flood prevention scheme delay 'disappointing'
A woman rescued from her flood-hit home in Londonderry eight years ago has said frustration is growing over delays to a flood defence Wednesday, councillors in Derry were told the scheme for the Drumahoe area of the city is now at its design is expected to cost £5m and will not be completed until next year, councillors were also Grieve said that only added to residents' "frustration and disappointment". "We are no further on and we feel other areas in Northern Ireland are getting much quicker results," she told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today Grieve and two young sons, then aged two and four, were in their flooded home in Ivy Mead when they were rescued by tractor in August that time almost two-thirds of the north west's average monthly rain fell in a single night. Hundreds of homes and businesses were flooded when record rain fell across counties Derry, Tyrone and severe flooding caused widespread damage in 2022. Mrs Grieve said residents had been eagerly awaiting movement on the scheme to protect their homes ever since."Yesterday the only new information, disappointingly, is the £5m cost. The design stage was to be completed by end of 2025, now it is pushed back to 2026," she said that left the start and completion of the scheme in full without a definite Grieve said getting flood insurance was a real problem while "some residents in my area worry about every single rainfall". "We just feel like it is something that could be fixed, this worry could be put to bed once and for all with the installation of this flood defence," Mrs Grieve BBC has contacted the Department for Infrastructure for comment.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Sydenham Bypass roadworks completed
Long-running resurfacing work on one of the busiest roads in Belfast has been completed. Work began on the Sydenham Bypass six months ago and the regular closure of lanes led to complaints from motorists, especially at weekends. Belfast City Airport is beside the A2 bypass, which connects Belfast to heavily-populated areas in Bangor and Holywood. The shutdown of city-bound lanes on some Saturdays caused major traffic congestion on alternative routes in east Belfast. In a post on social media, the Department for Infrastructure announced that the £3.8m resurfacing work had been completed. It stated: "Thank you for your patience as we carried out this improvement work which has significantly enhanced one of our busiest and most strategic routes." The department said that than 13,000 tonnes of bituminous material was used to provide a smoother surface. Work began in October but was paused over the Christmas period. Sydenham Bypass works to resume next week Minister defends department over 'traffic chaos' Warning of delays due to Sydenham Bypass works
