Sinn Féin councillor opposes flats in wooded area

Sinn Féin councillor and local resident Tierna Cunningham said she opposes the plans to build 28 apartments in a wooded area in the Whitewell.
“I am very concerned about the proposals and residents have been angry about this for some time,” said the Republican representative.

Plans have been submitted to the Planning Service to build four apartment blocks which will make up 28 apartments on the wood at Pineview. The wooded area links Pineview and the Antrim Road and is one of the few green spaces left in the area.

People living in the area are heavily opposed to the plans and are set to meet planning officials next week to discuss the proposals.
"The concerns are very real as this development will have a negative impact on the area. It will affect traffic volume and will be an invasion of privacy as well as damaging the environment as there are foxes and other wildlife in the woods,” said Tierna.
"The local infrastructure won't be able to keep up. I will continue to liaise with residents in the area and hope we come to a satisfactory conclusion."

Buildings on fire
Meanwhile Tierna has said that two derelict buildings on the Antrim Road that were set on fire this week, must be properly secured.
Belfast City Council's building control department has served an enforcement notice on the owners of a derelict building on the Antrim Road forcing them to secure the site after it was set on fire this week.

It took five fire engines almost three hours to extinguish the blaze at the two derelict semi detached homes on the Antrim Road facing St Patrick's College on Tuesday. The Fire and Rescue Service said the blaze was started deliberately.
"People who are responsible for a derelict building such as this one need to step up to the plate, it’s not good enough to leave these sites wide open for people particularly young people to access," said the Sinn Féin councillor.

"They are dangerous and become an eyesore for local people plus they attract fly tipping, vermin and graffiti and are a magnet for anti social behaviour.
“We in Sinn Féin have been in contact with the owners of this building and will be reminding them of their responsibility to secure this property in a safe way.”