The £200,000 environmental improvement scheme included the planting of nearly 100 trees along the frontages of the Shankill and Woodvale Roads and over 75 trees on the Crumlin Road, all with ornamental tree guards. The scheme was completed by Belfast Regeneration Office in partnership with Belfast City Council and with support from Roads Service.
Speaking at an event where the Minister planted the final tree to mark the scheme’s completion, she said: “Regeneration is of crucial importance in these areas of Belfast. This project will create a more attractive environment for local residents and businesses and will make a significant visual improvement to both of these main arterial routes.
“By funding environmental improvement schemes my Department is demonstrating its commitment to improving the environment and image of our most deprived neighbourhoods.
“I am determined to successfully regenerate these disadvantaged areas in our communities so that they become more attractive places in which to live, work and invest. These projects provide excellent examples of what can be achieved by working in partnership with Belfast City Council, other statutory agencies, and local communities.”
The Minister went on to say: “These improvements to the Shankill and Crumlin Roads will complement other physical regeneration projects that have been completed or are planned in these areas. I have also commissioned the development of Physical Regeneration Masterplans for the Lower Shankill and Lower Crumlin areas and work on these is currently well underway. When completed, the Masterplans will hopefully provide the context for further more strategic physical improvements to these areas.”
The Lord Mayor, Tom Hartley said: “I would like to congratulate those involved in this environmental improvement scheme. The council, through working in partnership with Belfast Regeneration Office, has ensured that the regeneration of these areas continues to represent one of our key priorities. Not only will the planting of these trees help to create a more pleasant environment for local residents, they should also serve to promote economic investment in the area by improving the image of the neighbourhood in the long-term.”
Tom Scott, Chairman of the Greater Shankill Partnership welcomed the tree planting schemes and stated: “Neighbourhood Renewal is about improving the lives of people who live in areas like the Greater Shankill. Together with other environmental improvements delivered by DSD and the City Council, these trees help to make the Shankill and Woodvale Roads more attractive places to live, work and visit.”
Notes to Editors:
1. Woodvale Road, Shankill Road and Crumlin Road are the City’s main arterial routes linking North and West Belfast to Belfast City Centre.
2. Woodvale Road, Shankill Road and Crumlin Road are located within the Crumlin and Greater Shankill Neighbourhood Renewal Areas and also within the Crumlin and Shankill electoral wards which are recognised as being within the top 10% of most deprived wards in Northern Ireland.
3. The Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy has four interlinking strategic objectives:
- Community Renewal – to develop confident communities that are able and committed to improving the quality of life in their areas.
- Economic Renewal – to develop economic activity in the most deprived neighbourhoods and connect them to the wider urban economy.
- Social Renewal – to improve social conditions for the people who live in the most deprived neighbourhoods through better co-ordinated public services and the creation of safer environments.
- Physical Renewal – to help create attractive, safe and sustainable environments in the most deprived neighbourhoods.
4. Media enquiries to DSD Press Office on 02890 829496 or out of office hours please contact the EIS Duty Press Officer on pager 07699715440 and your call will be returned.
