{"id":24674,"date":"2022-01-05T10:57:02","date_gmt":"2022-01-05T15:57:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=24674"},"modified":"2022-01-05T10:57:05","modified_gmt":"2022-01-05T15:57:05","slug":"despite-progress-over-100-peace-wall-barriers-still-exist-in-the-north","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=24674","title":{"rendered":"Despite Progress Over 100 Peace Wall Barriers Still Exist In The North"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Community work behind the scenes has seen many of the barriers taken down with the agreement of local residents (PA Images)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

More than 100 peace wall barriers remain across the North over two decades after the signing of the Belfast Agreement, a leading fund has said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The International Fund for Ireland (IFI) revealed there has been significant progress with barriers in previously contentious areas but said more than 100 remain separating communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The barriers range from high concrete walls to gates, fences and in some cases even buildings and are owned by a number of bodies, from the North’s Department of Justice, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive as well as private bodies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They were erected from the 1970s in response to attacks and disorder during the Troubles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The IFI supports a number of community projects aimed at transforming local barriers and ultimately seeing their removal at a pace which local residents are comfortable with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is part of a program which the IFI has been running since 2012.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among the most recent successes have been the removal of a high peace fence in North Queen Street, an area of north Belfast that saw significance violence during the Troubles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Duncairn Community Partnership (DCP) said new security glass was installed in windows and doors of homes prior to the removal of the fence at the front of the properties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They said prior to this residents had not been able to use their front doors or gardens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A high solid peace wall and fence was also removed from the Hillman Court\/Duncairn Gardens area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DCP manager Harry Smyth said local residents were involved in the design of a new interface, which he described as a \u201ccomplete transformation to a lovely green link fence which you wouldn\u2019t even know is a peace wall\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s absolutely brilliant and some of the houses in the New Lodge are enjoying the sunshine coming in for the first time in 30 years,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe North Queen Street scheme was slightly delayed by Covid and also by Brexit slowing down supply of materials. However, it has now completed changed the area for householders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPeople living at this peace wall couldn\u2019t use their front doors as they were opening on to a barrier.  Now they are not only using the front of their homes but are getting new gardens and the whole area has been opened up and completely transformed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There has also been progress in the Ardoyne\/Woodvale area where the Flax Street gates leading to the Crumlin Road have been blocked by a solid barrier for 40 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Twaddell Ardoyne Shankill Communities in Transition (TASCIT) group is working to see it replaced with new automated vehicular and pedestrian access gates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the barrier remains, the group hopes the scheme will proceed soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nearby, the Housing Executive has completed environmental improvement works in the Woodvale\/Columbia street area, with a new red brick peace wall to be installed on Crumlin Rd and new decorative peace gates to replace the solid barrier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Project manager Rab McCallum said there is now more meeting between the two sides of the community in the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe know course participants who hadn\u2019t ventured into each other\u2019s areas in 50 years as they were intimidated out,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey are now spending time there as part of the course, having a positive impact on them and the wider community as it is letting people know it\u2019s safe to do so.\u201d<\/p>\n

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