Cash boost for west Belfast and Shankill

The government has today announced a £4.1 million cash boost to upgrade arterial routes in West Belfast and Greater Shankill.

This element of the funding for the 'Renewing the Routes' initiative has been provided through the Department for Social Development's Belfast Regeneration Office.

The areas identified for support within the programme are the Falls Road, Shankill Road, Springfield Road, Crumlin Road and Broadway.

Making the announcement, Social Development Minister David Hanson said: "The work aims to upgrade the physical appearance of West Belfast and the Shankill. It should also contribute to economic renewal, through the investment opportunities and improved business confidence that it can generate.

"These routes were once the focus of thriving neighbourhoods. Now however, they require targeted support to tackle the social, economic, environmental and physical problems, which beset these areas. We hope 'Renewing the Routes' will ultimately help create the conditions upon which long-term regeneration can be built."

The Minister also commented on the ongoing work by government in these areas.

He said: "The scheme, which is part of one of the recommendations of the West Belfast & Greater Shankill Task Forces, will also complement the regeneration initiatives already under way in deprived areas throughout West Belfast and Greater Shankill. These include the Government's Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy and Renewing Communities initiative.

"I have recently announced, as part of Renewing Communities, action plans for a further programme of physical improvements to secondary arterial routes in Belfast. These will complement this and other work which is ongoing on the main arterial routes in the city."

John Simpson Chair of the Joint Working Group of the West Belfast and Greater Shankill Task Forces, said: "A major enhancement of these arterial routes, in terms of transport (public transport and management of parking), regeneration of businesses along the routes and environmental amenities, is a critical element in the recommendations from the Task Forces for the areas. This announcement, drawing from the Integrated Development Fund, is a significant first step in what should develop into a major infrastructure investment review."

(EF/SP)