22-05-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
Plaques placed ‘without permission' removed from estate by Housing Executive with PSNI support
Two murals were taken down from the West Winds estate in Newtownards on Thursday morning.
One was a plaque commemorating the Battle of the Somme.
The NI Housing Executive has said the removal was part of a new 'community-led initiative improving the image' of the estate.
The Belfast Telegraph understands the murals were removed by masked contractors on behalf of the Housing Executive.
'Local officers were in attendance to support the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to remove two murals within the West Winds Housing Estate this morning, Thursday 22nd May,' confirmed a PSNI spokesperson.
A Housing Executive spokesperson said: 'A new, community-led initiative improving the image of the West Winds estate in Newtownards is underway, with support from the Housing Executive.
'This involves the re-imaging of a number of paramilitary murals which have been replaced by local historical imagery and artwork reflecting the strong heritage and aspirations of those living in the area.
'Additional plaques were placed on our properties without permission, which were not part of the display installed by the community.
'These have been removed and we will continue to engage locally to provide a positive outlook for our tenants in this area.'
