Other News In Brief

Loughside Playground Reopens After Refurbishment

Belfast City Council has announced that Loughside Playground in north Belfast has reopened after redevelopment works by the Council.

As part of this year's £580,000 Playground Improvement Programme, three sites are undergoing transformation, including New Lodge playground and North Link playground.

Since 2012, the programme has played a crucial role in improving the safety, quality and accessibility of outdoor play parks throughout Belfast. As a result, all council-owned sites now boast a ranking of 'good quality' or higher.

The renovation project at Loughside, situated off Shore Road, includes the installation of additional inclusive amenities. These include an accessible trampoline, roundabout and multi-play unit, alongside upgraded safety surfacing, boundary fencing, site furniture and landscaping works.

Visiting the site, Councillor Micky Murray, Chair of the People and Communities Committee, said: "It’s great to see the revitalisation of spaces like Loughside, developing this valuable resource into more inclusive and welcoming space for children and families.

"Providing safe and high-quality play areas in local communities is important, and we're proud to deliver on that, with over £6 million invested into more than 50 of our sites during the last decade."

Improvement works at North Link playground, in the west of the city, are currently underway and are expected to be completed by the end of April. Work at New Lodge playground will get underway in May.

Alliance Calls For Works At Milltown Cemetery To Stop

Alliance has called on the Catholic Church and the Department for Communities to stop the ongoing works in Milltown Cemetery, due to fears that unmarked graves may be disturbed.

The mother of the party's North Belfast MLA, Nuala McAllister, was previously informed her stillborn son and the twins she lost during pregnancy could be in Milltown Cemetery in the baby graves.

It is believed that individuals buried in these graves may include stillborn infants, individuals from mother and baby homes in Belfast and others who were denied a conventional burial.

Ms McAllister has said: "I, alongside many others I’ve met who’s deceased family members may be affected, remain extremely concerned with the risk that this work is disturbing these unmarked graves.

"I am calling on the Catholic Church and the Department for Communities to urgently halt this work to allow for transparent and independent analysis of the ground in question, so that the families impacted can have confidence that the remains of their loved ones will not be disturbed.

"Since this story was reported, I have had a number of people getting in touch with similar concerns that their relatives may too be affected. I’m acutely aware of the pain this may be dredging up for many people and families here, and I want to assure everyone that I will not be letting this issue rest."

Autism NI Celebrates World Autism Acceptance Week

Autism NI has encouraged everyone to get behind their message 'Be Kind to Different Minds' as it celebrates World Autism Acceptance Week from 2nd to 8th April.

With over 35,000 autistic people in Northern Ireland, the local charity is rallying for widespread participation and solidarity with the vibrant autistic community.

Local mum Michelle Clarke said: "Conor would struggle understanding relationships, and needs support with his social and emotional needs. Autism NI has helped Conor maintain friendships and helped him work on managing his own emotions. The team provided him with exercises to help him remain calm and visuals that are used at home with the whole family. We have really benefited from the help we received from Autism NI."

Michelle's son, Conor said: "Autism acceptance to me means that people understand and accept autism and all its forms, there is a wide spectrum, and we are all different. I am supporting Autism NI’s message to 'Be Kind To Different Minds' as it would make me feel accepted and comfortable to stim, and be myself in public."

Autism NI’s Family Support Manager, Kris Morrison, stated: "This World Autism Acceptance Week it would be great if the wider public could support our ‘Be Kind to Different Minds’ message. With 1 in 20 children having a diagnosis in Northern Ireland, we campaign to inspire and educate local people, communities, businesses, and government to ensure everyone can understand autism, and how to support autistic people and their families. Together we can build an inclusive society in Northern Ireland and give our autistic community the best tools and opportunities to live fulfilled lives."