New Lodge residents, the Housing Executive, Belfast City Council and DRD Roads Service are all proud of the new look Walkway which links North Queen Street to Clifton Street. Taking pride of place among the community led environmental improvements is the youth art project facilitated by the New Lodge Arts Group.
The land, which is adjacent to the Westlink wall, had become overgrown and rat infested. It was strewn with litter and unwanted household items and the dense undergrowth also provided the perfect place for underage drinking, anti social behaviour and joy riding. The wall itself was also dangerously low in places and with a 30ft drop on the other side many feared it was only a matter of time until a young person was injured or killed.
The community came together with statutory agencies like the Housing Executive, Belfast City Council and DRD Roads Services and the partnership has seen the total transformation of the area. As part of this jointly funded project, the site was cleared and a safety fence erected along the wall making the area much safer for young and old alike. Young people of the area also participated in the creation of a community art project which replaced the unsightly grafitti that was synonomous with the area.
Liam Wiggins of the New Lodge Housing Forum is thrilled with progress to date and said:
“It’s lovely to see the young people of the area becoming involved in the project and I know they are rightly proud of what they have achieved so far. The environmental improvements carried out have not only made the area more attractive but a much safer place for everyone. “
Leonard Sproule from Creating Common Ground Consortium is also delighted with the success of the project and commented:
“This is a perfect example of just what can be achieved when local residents and young people work alongside statutory bodies. What is particularly pleasing is that the artwork has remained graffiti free; I feel this is because the young people of the area were involved in the project from the beginning and have taken ownership of their own work.”
Sean McKenna, the Housing Executive’s local District Manager echoed those sentiments and said:
“The Housing Executive is totally committed to improving not just housing conditions but also the wider environment in the New Lodge area. We are delighted to be associated with this worthwhile project and the benefits are evident to everyone involved.”
Joe Drew, Divisional Roads Manager, of the DRD Roads Service, who part funded the project added:
“Roads Service was very pleased to co-operate in a project which aimed to improve the conditions and environment for residents. It was particualrly pleasing to see the energy and enghusiasm of young people used so productively and with such generosity of spirit.”
Further funding is now being actively sought and future proposals for the area include another community art project, extensive landscaping (during the November planting season) and the provision of bollards along the walkway to prevent joy riding. It is also planned to upgrade the existing play park.
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