A long running saga surrounding the re-opening of an entrance gate into a South Belfast park, and the tussle between council and residents over potential antisocial behaviour, is coming to a close.
Belfast City Council has revealed some of the “mitigating” measures it will take to allay concerns of Lisnasharragh residents worried about the reopening of an old gate entrance into Cherryvale Playing Fields from Knockbreda Road. The gate has been closed for over 20 years, due to previous concerns about anti-social behaviour.
In a report for the council’s recent People and Communities Committee meeting, elected members approved that the council would spend £17,800 on the erection of fencing around the substation and rear of houses at Rosetta Road, resurfacing of the triangle of land outside the current gate, and providing additional bins.
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Councillors had complained that an initial list of mitigation measures to allay residents' concerns was too costly, with the tally of costs for measures such as CCTV and new lighting totalling over £90,000. However after further meetings with residents, the committee heard, the bill was significantly reduced.
The council report states: “Additional fencing and the replacement of the inner gate was discussed and officers agreed to a site meeting with residents before installation. It was communicated to residents that CCTV would not be installed but the council is currently considering a CCTV policy which will inform any future decision in relation to this.
“Lighting is not seen by the council as a necessary mitigation - it is too costly and the gate will be closed at dusk in line with our parks opening hours. Additional dog litter bins will be installed to facilitate increased dog walkers in the area, and tree pruning carried out around the substation.
“(There will be) increased park warden patrols following the opening of the gate and this will be kept under review. Numbers will also be provided to residents to contact when they witness antisocial behaviour.”
It has been five years since a council motion by Alliance looked into reopening the gate. Earlier this year a public consultation was held which saw nearly 90 percent of respondents agree to the measure.
However, another consultation among those living closest to the gate found that 60 percent were against reopening the gate while 40 percent were in favour, with the main concern being an increase in antisocial behaviour. The council committee then agreed in the Autumn to open the gate while continuing conversations with nearby residents as to how to implement mitigation against potential antisocial behaviour.
The project was further delayed last year after a Sinn Féin motion insisted the gate could only be opened if a new pedestrian crossing was created across the road beside the gate. The Department for Infrastructure at Stormont eventually agreed to create a pedestrian crossing before the gate was opened, but stated in a letter last month that “residents living adjacent to the site of the proposed crossing have expressed considerable opposition to the proposal.”
The letter adds: “The Department commissioned a study of the site and a preferred location was identified outside no 30 Knockbreda Road. The detailed design of the crossing is underway and a safety audit has recently been commissioned to inform the design process.”
The council report, written after the Stormont letter, states: “Since receiving this letter, council officers have further engaged with DfI on the timeline for installation of the crossing. Initial feedback from DfI officers confirms that a recent survey confirms that due to the busy nature of the road, this crossing will be installed regardless of the gate opening. The council has agreed that this work should be completed before the opening of the gate.”
No dates have been given for either the completion of the crossing nor the opening of the gate, but council officers indicated that preparatory work before the reopening would start immediately with councillor's approval.
SDLP Councillor Séamas de Faoite told the committee: “I am glad we have come to the end of this process. I still have some concerns that DfI continue to drag their heels, but I am confident that we will get to an end stage of this, if not before Christmas, then by the early New Year, having spoken with DfI about this last week.”
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