Alliance campaign delivers positive results


East Belfast Alliance MP Naomi Long and MLA Chris Lyttle have said that they are delighted that, after a long-running campaign by Alliance and local residents, the Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy has agreed to adopt the footpaths of Kingsdale Park in East Belfast and bring them up to standard. Due to an administrative oversight in 1959, the pavement was not adopted with the carriageway of Kingsdale Park, and as a result the footpaths have fallen into disrepair, leaving many older people concerned about leaving their homes.

Naomi Long MP said: “I have been campaigning to have these pavements adopted and repaired since 2001, when I was first elected to Belfast City Council. The situation is unique, as the Department itself appeared to believe and act as though the pavements were adopted for some purposes, and yet in the case of maintenance, were adamant that they were not. I even raised the matter in an Adjournment Debate at the Assembly some years ago with the previous Minister and despite the negative, though sympathetic response at that time, my colleague Chris Lyttle and I have continued to lobby the current Minister. I am very pleased that the Department has finally seen sense and agreed to adopt these pavements, and am delighted for the local residents who will finally see this saga brought to a close. I sincerely hope that a programme of maintenance work on the pavements commences as quickly as possible. I want to thank the Minister, Danny Kennedy MLA, for this positive outcome. “

Chris Lyttle MLA said: “Rate payers, in particular older people and young families, have been disadvantaged and put in danger by these unadopted footpaths at Kingsdale Park for too long and I am glad the Minister has finally accepted our argument that his Department has a responsibility to intervene. This great news demonstrates that Alliance will not give up on an issue and that we deliver results for people in East Belfast and right across Northern Ireland.”

ENDS

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