Initiatives To Make Holylands Welcoming, Safe, Fair And Inclusive

Two new initiatives to ensure the University and Lower Ormeau area is welcoming, safe, fair and inclusive to all, have been announced by Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey.

The Minister will provide £25,000 from her Department to Belfast City Council to appoint an Intervention Officer for the area. Partners from the Strategic Partnership Group, which Minister Hargey established to address anti-social behaviour in the area, have also committed funding to the post.

The Minister has also announced that her Department will make £100,000 available for an alleyway improvement scheme in the area to reduce the anti-social behaviour and provide better security and safety to residents.

Speaking during a visit to the area, Minister Hargey said: "Like all of Belfast, the University and Lower Ormeau area should be welcoming, safe, fair and inclusive to all - making it a great place to live, work and invest.

"Today I am taking action to help deliver improvements to address the long standing issues this area has faced. These initiatives are the first, in a wider piece of work that is being taken forward under the Strategic Partnership that I established. I am committed to deliver for this area and its residents.

"I am delighted to announce that my Department will be co-funding the recruitment of an Intervention Manager to tackle the long standing issues of the area.

"The Intervention Manager will act as an area champion, facilitating effective partnership working, including the development of a new community involvement model and the co-design and implementation of a multi-agency intervention plan that meets community needs and solves local problems."

Belfast City Council has shown that alleygates help to reduce antisocial behaviour, burglaries and fear of crime in areas of Belfast where they have been installed.

The Minister said: "My offer of funding will enable the City Council, working with local residents, to bring forward its programme of substantial transformation of the alleyways in the Holyland and Lower Ormeau area."

Minister Hargey established a Strategic Partnership Group to address anti-social behaviour in the area. As part of this, the Minister has also established a Housing Sub-Group.

The Minister continued: "I have also established a Housing Sub-Group which will examine the longer term issues that need considered.

"I am pleased to be able to announce practical support today at the same time as ensuring the longer term issues are considered."

The Minister took the opportunity to encourage everyone to treat the area with respect.

The Minister continued: "I would once again call on those who are engaging in anti-social behaviour to respect the area, local residents and themselves. No-one wants to live in a climate of noise, disruption and fear. The initiatives that I am announcing today will go some way to support improvements in the area, but ultimately the best and long term change will come from wider respect for the area."