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Belfast Telegraph
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
DUP and Sinn Fein U-turn over support for festivals at popular Belfast park after backlash from locals
It concerns two events due to be held at Botanic Gardens this summer. Last month Sinn Fein and the DUP pushed through a decision during a committee debate behind closed doors and away from the public and press. They agreed to two applications for hosting events in Botanic Gardens in June and July. The Green Party, backed by the SDLP, unsuccessfully proposed declining the requests, with seven councillors backing them and 13 against. The two festivals would have taken away use of the great lawn, where people gather in good weather, for 35 days during the summer. The first request was submitted by CRD Live, seeking to host the 'Botanic Summer Sessions' which would have consisted of three music concerts on June 26, 27 and 28. The second request had been received from JKS for a 'Fire and Food BBQ Festival' from July 17 to 27. However, at the full monthly meeting of Belfast City Council this week, both Sinn Fein and the DUP appeared to have changed their positions on the requests. At the start of the meeting, the council agreed to receive a deputation from a representative for the Stranmillis Neighbourhood Association. He told the chamber it was 'surprising and dismaying' that the applications had been approved. Later, SDLP councillor Gary McKeown proposed not allowing the two requests to use Botanic Gardens this summer. He said: 'No one has any objection in principle to Botanic Gardens being used for events, and for years many successful events have indeed been taking place there, from the Mela to family fun days and fairs. However, it is not primarily an events venue, nor is it a commercial facility. 'First and foremost it is a botanical garden, laid out and maintained for the people of Belfast, and it hosts many types of wildlife. This must remain its core purpose. 'These proposals, when taken together, would effectively close off the great lawn from public access for 35 days at the height of summer, denying people the ability to enjoy it at precisely the time when it is in greatest demand. 'This part of Botanic Gardens is an iconic location in the city that draws in hundreds of people daily across the summer, and often when good weather is reported in the media, it is the crowds enjoying the sun on the great lawn. It is not acceptable that people could be excluded from such a central location for such an extended period. 'These were opportunistic applications that were submitted after other events were cancelled, so there is no existing relationship between the promoters and the council, or this venue, that could establish any presumption that approval could be anticipated.' Green councillor Áine Groogan seconded the proposal. She said in the chamber: 'Open green space is limited enough in our city. This is a lifeline to local families and local communities, and to close off such huge areas of the park for exclusive use is not a decision we should ever take lightly. It should never be a decision we are bounced into, which I feel is the case in this instance.' 'These types of events need particularly long run-ins, they need community conversations and consultation, they need to basically show they are able, and have the experience to carry out events of this nature without causing any negative impact. 'The reality is the length of time we have before us does not allow for that to happen properly. If these were coming in a year in advance, there would have been time maybe to get to grips with some of these issues.' SInn Féin councillor Conor McKay said at the meeting: 'Reflecting on the correspondence we have had from constituents, and (the representative) speaking on behalf of Stranmillis Neighbourhood Association, we would like to say we will be voting for the (SDLP) proposal.' DUP Councillor Tracy Kelly said at the meeting: 'We will be supporting the (SDLP) proposal. As a Botanic councillor, I often say if you look at our district electoral area from the sky, it is a concrete jungle, and there is very little green space. So to take away the field for that amount of time is unacceptable. 'I also think we need to remember that we have very few parks in and around Belfast that people have access to. A lot of the people I represent just have back yards, with little or no grass or green space near them.' The proposal to reverse the committee decision was unanimously agreed by the chamber, without going to a vote.
BBC News
03-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Belfast: Councillors call for clamp down on dog fouling
There are calls for a clampdown on dog-fouling in Belfast after more than 1,000 complaints last year but relatively few 10 fixed penalty notices have been issued since April 2023, according to the latest figures released by Belfast City councillor Ruth Brooks said "the system is broken" while SDLP councillor Gary McKeown called for a "fundamental review" of the city's strategy to tackle compared avoiding dog mess in parts of Belfast to facing an obstacle course in the TV programme The Krypton Factor. 'Absolutely disgusting' McKeown told the monthly meeting of Belfast City Council: "It's a health hazard, it's an environmental hazard and at a very basic level, it's absolutely disgusting. I am sick listening about it."I see children treading it in on their way to school or out for a walk with their parents - it's not good enough."I'm embarrassed having to go back to people saying 'I'm sorry to hear about that, that's disgusting'." Figures obtained by Brooks, after a freedom of information request to Belfast City Council, showed that there were 1,172 complaints about dog-fouling last year but, at most, 10 fines handed called for more "pro-active enforcement" of existing measures to tackle said some community events in east Belfast had been cancelled because parkland areas had so much dog council has 12 full-time dog warden posts, and park wardens are also authorised to tackle fine is currently £80, reduced to £50 if paid within 10 days.A number of councillors, including the Alliance Party's Jenna Maghie, have said that higher fines should be is understood that a maximum of £200 could be have been discussed before but not agreed. 'Catch themselves on' Sinn Féin councillor Claire Canavan pointed out that the problem is being caused by a "small minority who aren't picking up after their dogs"."People need to catch themselves on," she praised the council cleansing staff who pick up the mess that dog owners leave four largest parties on the council all raised the dog fouling issue at Tuesday evening's meeting of the full 60-member People and Communities Committee at City Hall plans to discuss the matter again later this month. Sharon Vennard, 41, lives in south Belfast with her husband and two young is becoming increasingly frustrated with the dog fouling on the family's daily walk to school which she says is a "huge issue" in the area."Recently my two-year-old came out of a shop in our local area and tripped and fell right into dog poo. "I was very concerned he would get it in his eye and it was very upsetting for him."I walk my older child to school and there have been occasions he has walked through dog poo – and has had to wear his PE shoes and his classroom assistant has had to hose his shoes down which is very embarrassing for a child." Ms Vennard said she had complained to the council twice and was told there would be more wardens in the area."But my problem is that if someone sees a warden they will lift their dog poo as they are afraid of getting caught," she said."It's more trying to catch people out who are repeat offenders who are taking their dog for a walk in cover of darkness and are not responsible dog owners or turning their back and pretending not to notice. "It gets to the stage when it's about the health and safety of children and it's very serious."
Telegraph
21-02-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Injuries on ‘optical illusion' kerb prompt Government to step in
An 'optical illusion' kerb in Belfast which had to be blocked off after pedestrians tripped over it has prompted a government intervention. Stormont officials have commissioned consultants to rectify the paving in the city centre, after a lack of visible kerbstone edge between the pavement and a new cycle lane reportedly caused an elderly woman to misjudge her step and fall. The cycle lane had been added to Castle Place as part of a £52,000 scheme launched by the city council and the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) in 2021. A large 'temporary' barrier has been placed over the raised edge since January 2023, after Alice Rooney tripped over it and injured herself, knocking two teeth out in the process. The DfI spent £11,021 on consultancy fees for the project in 2023/24, according to figures obtained by the BBC in a Freedom of Information request. Now, Government officials are looking for a permanent solution to the trip hazard. Roads officials said an 'optical illusion appeared to have been created when the footway was extended next to the cycle lane.' They told BBC News Northern Ireland: 'This resulted in members of the public falling and injuring themselves.' Local businesses have also complained of the 'eyesore' barriers that they say are impacting their trade. As a result, the DfI has commissioned consultants to draw up more proposals to redevelop the streetscape and resolve the issues. Cllr Gary McKeown, of the Social Democratic and Labour Party, said there had been a 'complete lack of urgency'. 'It's unbelievable that after two years and over £11,000 of public money being splashed out by the [DfI] to get some ideas about what to do, still we are stuck with big orange plastic barriers in the heart of our city centre,' he said. 'It's an absolute mess, especially when there's wind and the barriers collapse like dominoes, creating even more risk.' He added that it was 'not acceptable that this location still looks like a building site' amid efforts to get tourists into the city. In a statement, a spokeswoman for the DfI said: 'The department placed temporary barriers at this location in response to concerns over pedestrian and cyclist safety. 'We are currently progressing plans to enable a permanent cycle lane to be installed at this location and will be engaging with key stakeholders to discuss design proposals.'
BBC News
21-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Belfast: Consultants called to resolve street 'optical illusion'
Stormont officials have commissioned consultants to help address an "optical illusion" along a Belfast footpath that has caused pedestrians to trip and kerb on Castle Place in the city centre has been blocked off with a temporary barrier for more than two and politicians have branded it an "eyesore" and expressed frustration at delays in finding a permanent fees for the project were £11,021 in 2023-24, the Department of Infrastructure (DFI) said in response to a Freedom of Information also said it was "progressing" plans and would be "engaging with key stakeholders to discuss design proposals". The streetscape was changed in recent years to add a cycle lane as part of a £52,000 scheme involving the city council and concerns emerged that the drop between the edge of the pavement and the cycle lane was difficult for some people to see.A temporary barrier was placed along the kerb in January 2023 after an elderly woman suffered facial injuries in a fall. Roads officials said an "optical illusion appeared to have been created when the footway was extended next to the cycle lane"."This resulted in members of the public falling and injuring themselves," they said in correspondence seen by BBC News commissioned consultants to draw up proposals to redevelop the streetscape and resolve the issues. 'No clear resolution' Property manager Adam Goligher, from Little Feather Management, described the temporary barrier as "such an eyesore"."It's a 100m-long reflective orange barrier. It doesn't look nice, and it should be an easy fix," he said they have put "on hold" plans to install new lighting at nearby Castle Buildings as a result."Investing in enhancements feels less effective when such a prominent temporary structure remains in place," he said."We encourage the department to engage with local businesses and work towards a prompt resolution, as this issue impacts the overall efforts to improve the area." Belfast councillor Gary McKeown, of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), said there has been a "complete lack of urgency"."It's unbelievable that after two years and over £11,000 of public money being splashed out by the Department for Infrastructure to get some ideas about what to do, still we are stuck with big orange plastic barriers in the heart of our city centre," he said. The councillor added that with efforts to encourage people into the city centre, it was "not acceptable that this location still looks like a building site"."It's an absolute mess, especially when there's wind and the barriers collapse like dominos, creating even more risk," he a statement a DfI spokeswoman said: "The department placed temporary barriers at this location in response to concerns over pedestrian and cyclist safety."We are currently progressing plans to enable a permanent cycle lane to be installed at this location and will be engaging with key stakeholders to discuss design proposals."
