South and East Belfast Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Ó Donnghaile raises Mountpottinger Barracks site with Housing Executive

Published: 8 September, 2009

East Belfast Sinn Féin representative Niall Ó Donnghaile has written to the Housing Executive's East Belfast District Manager to ascertain whether the Housing Executive has been in contact with the Policing Board in relation to purchasing the land vacated by the closure of Mountpottinger PSNI Barracks.


Mr Ó Donnghaile said,

As of 31st August 2009, the Policing Board have officially closed Mountpottinger PSNI Barracks in the Short Strand.


"The Short Strand community, including Sinn Féin, the Partnership Board, Saint Matthew's Housing Association and other local groups have been campaigning for the removal of this facility and it's replacement with the much needed, suitable, family homes for many years now.


"With this in mind I have written to Housing Executive to find out if, at any stage, they have been in contact with the Policing Board in relation to purchasing the land vacated by the closure of the Barracks.


"Margaret Ritchie, the Minister for Social Development, has set clear targets in relation to the development of social housing and I have no doubt that all stakeholders will view this land as an ideal opportunity to implement that policy in an area of such high demand." CRÍOCH