Hargey takes action to deliver improvements in Holyland area

Date published: 17 February 2022

Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has announced two initiatives to ensure the University and Lower Ormeau area is welcoming, safe, fair and inclusive to all.

Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey is pictured with local residents of the Holyland Brid Ruddy (L) and Catriona Goldhammers (R)
Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey is pictured with local residents of the Holyland Brid Ruddy (L) and Catriona Goldhammers (R)

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.”

Notes to editors: 

  1. Photo caption: Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey is pictured with local residents of the Holyland Brid Ruddy (L) and Catriona Goldhammers (R) as the Minister announced two new initiatives to ensure the University and Lower Ormeau area is welcoming, safe, fair and inclusive to all.
  2. The Department for Communities (DfC) will provide £25k per annum for two years for the appointment of an Intervention Officer.
  3. DfC will make £100k available to Belfast City Council in this financial year (2021-22) to help improve alleyways in the Lower Ormeau and Wider University area. These improvements may take the form of alley gates or alley improvements (subject to business case and standard requirements). 
  4. Media enquiries to DFC Press Office on email at press.office@communities-ni.gov.uk
  5. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.
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