Alliance South Belfast Councillor Emmet McDonough-Brown has sought a meeting with the Council Chief Executive to raise residents’ concerns over students returning to the Holyland.With the start of the new university term approaching, locals have aired worries about on-street drinking and other anti-social behaviour issues. Councillor McDonough-Brown said the experiences of many residents were disgraceful and called on people to enjoy themselves responsibly.
“The issues in the Holyland are well known and have affected the area for many years – but the lack of action from statutory agencies is deeply disappointing,” he said.
“With hundreds of students drinking on-street this past weekend already, residents have already rightly complained and expressed their fears. I have therefore sought an urgent meeting with the Chief Executive of Belfast City Council to discuss the issue and what can be done to resolve the matter.
“Belfast City Council can intervene in relation to on-street drinking and I will be urging the organisation to do just that. With the correct intervention now, we can turn the tide in the Holyland and help locals restore the area to the long-term residential area it once was.”