Sinn Féin arranges meeting to tackle Woodlands anti-social issues
Published: 5 April, 2009
Bamoral Sinn Féin representative Vincent Parker has arranged a meeting that will include Belfast City Council, the GAA, the PSNI, and a number of residents who live in the vicinity of the Woodlands Park area.
The meeting has been organised in order to ensure that all organisations work fully with residents in the Finaghy Road North/Woodlands Park area to curtail anti-social behaviour that has been on the increase in that area.
The meeting will take place on Tuesday afternoon, 7th April 2009.
Speaking in advance of the meeting Mr Parker said,
"I have been in regular contact with residents from living near Woodlands. The ongoing problem of anti-social behaviour, including under-age drinking, in the area is a recurring problem.
"Crowds of young people have been gathering at Woodlands Playing Fields and engaging in anti-social behaviour. This is causing problems, not only for local residents, but also for the sporting teams which use these playing fields.
"Unfortunately, to date, those with responsibility for Woodlands Park, have failed to adequately deal with this issue, as have the PSNI.
"Sinn Fein and the Finaghy Crossroads Group have been working together to try and some sort of satisfactory conclusion to this issue for local residents and those sporting clubs which use the Woodlands facilities. Tuesday's meeting is part of that process and we believe that it is important that local residents have an input, and also that both the GAA and Belfast City Council work with local residents to tackle these problems.
Mr Parker concluded,
"If we are to resolve this issue on a permanent basis it is essential that the GAA and the Belfast City Council Parks Department, both of whom have some responsibility in relation to Woodlands Playing Fields, work together with local residents to address their concerns in relation to this anti-social activity. In addition, the PSNI have a key role to play. To date their response has been less than satisfactory and if they are to maintain the confidence of the community then it is essential that they play a part in this process"
CRÍOCH
Notes to Editors:
1. The issue of access/security at Woodlands Playing Fields is viewed by the residents as the main problem and a permanent solution to this issue would help alleviate any potential anti-social gatherings in the park.
2. The need to include the GAA and Belfast City Council in the process lies in the fact that the GAA are, at present leasing the Playing Fields and the Belfast City Council Parks Department are ultimately responsible for the Playing Fields.
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