West Belfast community group campaign for official adoption of ‘dangerous’ alleyway

A West Belfast community group has launched a campaign to have a “dangerous” alleyway officially adopted to improve safety in the area and stop anti-social behaviour.

The Beechmount Residents Collective are calling on the Department for Infrastructure and Belfast City Council to take action and adopt an unadopted alleyway at Beechmount Grove and Beechmount Crescent which they say is dangerous for residents to use due to uneven paving, which have caused injuries to local residents.

They have also said that the alley has also become a dumping ground for flytipping and a hotspot for “anti-community behaviour”.

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The alley off Beechmount Grove, Belfast.
(Image: Justin Kernoghan)

Speaking to Belfast Live, Sean Doherty from BRC said: “Residents have had problems with this alleyway for at least four years but no matter who they talk to about having them resolved, whether that is DfI or the council, they are told it is not their responsibility because the alley is unadopted.

“At the moment there are a number of serious concerns regarding the alley as it is a danger to the local community due to its uneven paving and we have received numerous reports from residents about children being hurt. This health and safety issue not only impacts residents but could also see council workers at risk when collecting bins from it.

Peter and Sean in the alley off Beechmount Grove, Belfast.
(Image: Justin Kernoghan)

“We also have reports of anti-community activity taking place in the alley, from anti-social behaviour to flytipping, and this cannot be properly addressed until the alley is properly adopted.

“The residents and us as a community group have had enough and collectively working together to make this happen we call on all to support us in this campaign

“Our team will be back on the ground in Beechmount crescent over the next few days or you can contact us at BRCbeechmount@outlook.com.”

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Image Credits and Reference: https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/belfast-news/west-belfast-community-group-campaign-30734465