Palmerston Residents Association Chairman Terry Hoey Responds To The Statement Made By Belfast Education and Library Board that appeared In the CT Bel

The Palmerston Residents Association have been in contact with the Education Board since 20th March2008 we were informed at the time the Board intended to close the Sydenham Youth Centre, as the Centre is situated on the Palmerston Road the Association felt it should have been consulted regarding the decision of the Board,the association have always taken a stand for the Community it represents. Our Constitution is founded on the basis of principals we will not go back on. We stand up for our Senior Citizens,our Disabled Community, our Youth,and our Ethnic Community.

The Palmerston Residents Association have always fought long and hard for the rights of the community, which is Sydenham in entirety, not as it is known by our officials as Sydenham One, Sydenham Two,and Sydenham Three, our community spreads to the whole of our community and that is Sydenham. We are proud of it and its history, we believe that our politicians and government founders should wake up to this, Sydenham is a community that has been ravaged by developers and by groups who act for our community who do not live here and do not see what their decisions do to our community.

We have ask the Education Board since the 20th March 2008 how it reached its EQIA under section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and how it carried out the consultation process to ensure all communities in the area had been consulted, how the information was presented to them and in what formats. Was the consultation process in accordance with the Guiding Principles set out by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, the main groups to section 75 categories Religious Belief,Political Opinion,Racial Group,Gender,Marital Status,Age,Persons with a Disability,Persons with Dependants, Sexual Orientation.

Our community should be consulted on how a public building that has cost tax payers money to build is to be disposed off. The Education Board has a duty to the community to fully consult with them before any action is taken to dispose or relocate a public building. We feel the Sydenham Community has not been properly consulted on this issue we have ask the Education Board many many times to hold an audit in the area, to enable them to find out what youth provision is required in the Sydenham area, and to look at groups from the disabled community, the Ethnic Community and people of different faiths. We felt that if groups where excluded it would sore up problems for our community in the long term.

The Residents Association would refer to the Education Boards letter of the 22nd July 2008 SM/CMcQ in its summary Paragraph 5, It is the view of the board that any adverse impact as a result of closure of the Sydenham Youth Facility was mitigated and therefore did not require an Equality Impact Assessment. We would also refer the board to its response to the Palmerston Residents Association under the heading 'Audits in the Area for Purpose of Closure' states I am unclear what you mean by audits in the area for the purpose of closure' I am unaware of any audits conducted in the area for the purpose of closure in these circumstances for this or any other BELB building. The original purpose of closure was to protect the health and safety of the staff and the users is a legal matter and is not an issue on which the BELB could or would consult local residents.

The Residents Association feel that if the building was closed on the grounds of health and safety to protect the staff and the users why then did it fail to disclose to the residents association what type of asbestos was in the youth centre and if it was that serious of a threat why were no hazard warning signs displayed around the outside of the building warning our community of the dangers that lay with in. We also requested in our letter to the Board 5th August 2008 to supply us with what measures have been taken to safe guard the public from entering the building and causing damage to the Asbestos.

The Residents Association has in its procession an audit that had been carried out in the area under the heading Sydenham Youth Audit Commissioned by East Belfast Area Youth Project and Strand Presbyterian Church. We refer to our letter of the 5th august 2008 under the heading 'Audits' we ask was the Boards Decision to relocate to Strand Presbyterian Church influenced by this audit. We refer to the Boards letter dated 10th October 2008 where it states the boards decision to relocate its services was explained in previous correspondence and was in no way influenced by the audit carried out by Converge.

The Residents Association feel that if any audit should have taken place it should have been screened under section 75, we feel the audit that took place for Strand Presbyterian Church should have been screened for the purpose of section 75 to make sure it had covered the main groups relevant to the section,the association feel the Education Board should have carried out an audit in the area to include all categories in section 75. The association are concerned the youth in the area who may not want to attend church will fall through the net,we feel this issue will not go away and it must be fixed before the youth in the area feel they have been sidelined.

The Residents Association meeting with the Education Board was in a response to their letter of the 10th Oct 2008 as it stated it wanted to meet with us once more. We ask the board to carry out an audit in the area to enable it to realise what youth provision was needed in the area, we also refer to their letter of the 10th Oct 2008 where it states the youth service in Belfast,in tandem with the other four education and library boards,will shortly be advertising a new registration process as the result of an equality impact assessment of the registration and grant aid schemes.This will be an opportunity for youth groups,including section 75 groups highlighted in your letter,to register with the board with the possibility of accessing future funding. The association is pleased by this statement but it fails to put right the wrong.In not consulting the community before it relocated its youth club to Strand Presbyterian Church when it could have relocated it to mobile classrooms in the area until proper assessments under the risk of asbestos be carried out by an independent assessment by the Health and Safety Executive

The Residents Association said before the meeting that it would not discuss with the board issues we have with the board in the management of the Asbestos, and why they deemed this building surplus to requirements due to the health and safety issues when other youth clubs have been upgraded. Health and safety issues in another building cost the board for security because it was damaged by fire and was deemed to be demolished, but then reprieved for further assessment. We can assure the board that we do not intend to let the issue drop until youth provision in the Sydenham area is audited under section 75 to include all groups who live in our community. We would also ask if the board carried out an audit in the area that covers all these groups would you please produce it to enable the residents association to close this issue.

Palmerston Residents Association Ask Is The Belfast Education (Youth ) Is Fit For Purpose In 2008 Do We Need Old Style Thinking On Youth Provision Or

The Palmerston Residents Association has been campaigning for some time trying to reverse the decision of the Belfast Education Board to close the Sydenham Youth Centre we have felt that Education Board had made a wrong decision we lobbied them to hold a audit in the area to take into account the views of our young people and our disabled and ethnic groups we have ask to have this carried out by an independent source we have requested this form our first contact with the Education Board and also at our meeting 17th October 2008

We felt at that meeting we could have come to some form of understanding with the Education Board on how it sees the youth provision in the Sydenham Area we felt that this would be the way forward,to our dismay it was not what the Education Board was there for it just did not want to try and reach any understanding at all,and railroaded over our concerns regarding youth provision in the area to our dismay.

The Residents Association is a fully constituted association and represents our community, we know the need for this centre and we feel it is vital link for our youth,we see it as a place of learning and involvement we know the youth in the area need this facility. We are aware the majority of youth want to have a neutral area to enable them to take ownership of it. We believe now more than ever the Education Board needs to look at their youth department and who heads it up and ask its self is it fit for purpose in 2008.

The association looks to other parts of the UK and see how they understand the needs of youth, millions of pounds are spent on youth by Play England and Play London we must draw into question why our young people are not worth the same. If we are trying to build a peaceful and exclusive society we have to look to our younger generation. Millions of pounds are spent on buildings making land marks yet we can not do the same to provide our young people places to meet or play. We ask the Education Board to read the insert on youth clubs published in the London Play News Oct 08.

Youth clubs help to cut antisocial behaviour, according to recent research from Clubs for Young People
(CYP): the umbrella group of 3,000 UK youth clubs. The study reveals there is a relationship between the
number of Asbos issued and availability of youth clubs: more Asbos are issued in places where fewer
youth clubs exist. It also finds there are more children per youth club in deprived areas. Clubs for Young
People is involved in the Blueprint project which aims to set out a plan for fun and effective youth centres.
Simon Antrobus, Chief Executive of Clubs for Young People, said: "Young people rightly deserve high
quality facilities in their communities which is why it's important that we lead a discussion on what turns a
community facility into a world class provision where young people can have fun, learn and grow as
individuals. (London Play News)

children regarded freedom, physical activity and areas to socialise with friends as the most important
elements of good play provision. However, barriers to play included traffic, bullying, stranger danger,
racism and negative adult attitudes such as areas with ‘No Ball Games’ signs. The single most common
barrier to play was physical distance from play areas which was a particular problem for disabled children(London Play News)

The Palmerston Residents Association ask the Education Minister to look at its (youth)Department and question themselves are they fit for purpose. Are they looking after the needs of our younger generation or pushing the youth where they do not want to go.

Palmerston Residents Association Meet With The Assistant Senior Education Officer (YOUTH)Of The Belfast Education Board Regarding Youth Provision In T

The Palmerston Residents Association with Its Chairman, Vice Chairman, Youth Worker, Drink and Drugs awareness worker and the representative of the East Belfast Community Development Agency, met with the Assistant Senior Education Officer (Youth)on Friday 17 Oct 2008 the meeting was to establish the views of the Education Board in regard to Youth Provision in Sydenham East Belfast.

We wanted to raise with him the Associations concerns that an audit in the area would need to be carried out to establish the needs of the youth in the area. We also raised concerns regarding suicide in the area and the lack of facilities that are now in the area for youth who slip through the net of the local churches known as detached Youth.

The Association has felt for some time now that the need to try and give the youth in the area a sense of belonging in the community was needed, to help them restore confidence in the area and to try and bring about change of attitudes in the local youth. We have felt for some time that the youth provision in the area was none existent or that it is so much out dated that the local youth cannot identify with it.

The association believes that an audit should have been carried out in the area to establish the needs of the youth in the area, and also establish the feelings of the youth regarding the use of local church as a venue for a youth club, the disabled and mental health community would also have to be taken into account where programs would have to be improved to meet their needs.

We have felt for some time that if we want to have full inclusion of all the youth in the area it would have to be carried out under section 75, equality screening to enable the Education Board to reach the different nationalities that are now living in the area, also the disabled community and people suffering from mental health issue. We feel this would be the only way the Education Board could identify the needs of the area.

The Association attended this meeting to raise its concerns with the Education Board and attempt work with the Education Board to bring about change in the Sydenham area. We as an association felt that the Education Board would have been interested in our local youth and the problems they have, we assumed they would have been interested in finding out any problems they were having and work with the association on how they could be solved.

The association felt the Education Board would have been interested resolving the issue of an audit in the area and become aware of the needs of our community, some of which are disabilities, suicide and mental health. I as Chairman of the Residents Association have attended countless meetings with MLA's and other official bodies, and I have never experienced such a lack of interest as I found in the Education Board. In fact we had to remind the Youth officer that it was our children and other peoples children that we were talking about.

If this education officer represents the official thinking of the Education Board and represents the face of the Education Board then we are in serious trouble and the youth are in even bigger trouble. We now ask the Education Board to review the training of their officers in how to conduct themselves at a meeting of concerned residents. We would also question the training of the officer in attendance at the residents meeting he failed in many ways to grasp what the meeting was about or how to resolve issues that were raised,we would strongly advise the Education Board to issue this officer the basic tree structure of the board to give him some idea where the different departments are managed and who directs them.

The association is sorry to say that because of how the officer conducted himself at this meeting and the lack of respect he held for our community and its views, we felt there was no other action we could take but to close the meeting with the officer, we are sorry we had to take this action but we felt there was no alternative.

Palmerston Residents Association Chairman Sends An Open Letter To The Education Minister For Northern Ireland And Her Chief Executive Requesting Answe

Dear Minister and Chief Executive

The Palmerston Residents Association has been in contact with you and your department for some months we have been asking for answers to questions that I feel are very important. We require answers to why Asbestos was used in the Building of the Youth Centre on the Palmerston Road Sydenham Belfast.

We also requested copies of the minutes of meetings that had taken place over a two year period with other groups to enable us to have a grasp of the feelings of the participants involved in the meeting at that time.We have also stated from our first contact with the board that a proper audit be carried out in the whole area of Sydenham and Ashmount area, to involve every household to enable the Education Board to gauge what Youth provision was needed in the area and what type of youth provision was required.

The Education board has continually said they felt there was no need for an audit in the area I as chairman of the residents association totally disagree with the Board. I feel that as the Board held talks for two years on a major issue as moving or shutting down a facility such as the Youth Hall the first thing that should have taken place was to ask the community and seek a wide range of expression in the area.

We have said from our first contact that the need for an audit was vital purely because the facility is the only neutral building in the area apart from Inverary Community Centre that is booked out most time, the need for the Youth Club In the area is vital for the younger generation of all communities in the area and is vital to the growth of the Sydenham and the Ashmount areas, the board in its attitude to the audit is totally flawed as it seems to feel it has no need to find out what people who live in the area want. The board fails to recognise the changing population in Northern Ireland and the need to be fully inclusive of all communities and the needs of the disabled communities in the area.

I as chairman ask the Education Board to think again on this Youth Hall the need for it in our area is vital to enable the community youth have a place they can go to and claim as their own. The need for youth workers in the area is also vital to help our young community deal with the pressures it is under in our way of life today,never has young people in Northern Ireland needed such a facility as now. We see other parts of the UK spending millions of pounds on it youth through Play England and Play London the government has recognised the need for our young people to have places for play and recreation. If we want to tackle the problems that our younger generation have to face today.

I look at other parts of the UK that I have lived in and how the youth is provided for and it makes me feel disgusted

In other parts of the UK young people attend rock concerts, make records, skate board centres and adventure playgrounds. In other parts of the UK they have not had to tackle thirty six years of violence yet our young people are at the end of the line when it comes to youth provision, we see our young people committing suicide because of the baggage they carry around with them, reports show East Belfast is becoming one of the highest places for suicide. The DSD has deemed it an area at risk.

I also know our mental health services are stretched to bursting as it has been under funded for years, I have seen our younger community trying to deal with mental health problems like never before, they have so many problems to deal with yet they are the ones that are forgotten in Northern Ireland. We spend millions on public enquiries, but find it hard to fund mental health for our youth.

I ask you the Minister of Education and The Chief Executive to rethink your plans on the Sydenham Youth Club and give it back to the young people of the area, if the Board has sold it buy it back then hold an audit in the area and find out what the young people in the area really want, show us that the Education Board has vision and they are looking to the future and not having tunnel vision in the needs of our young community.

The Sydenham Youth Club has not been in use for over two years it is falling into disrepair, the Board say it is because the building has asbestos in it, then take your opportunity to answer our letter to you and clear up the points we have raised, all we ask from you are answers as to why our young peoples Youth Club lies closed, when other parts of the UK are spending millions for youth provision yet the Board decides that it would cost too much to refurbish it and bring it to a standard where disabled people could also use it. I feel this is a nonsense as the building is approximately twenty years old. How could this be right how can you put a price on the future of the youth in the area?

Terry Hoey

Chairman Palmerston Residents Association

Palmerston Residents Association Intends To Call A Public Meeting With Regard To The Sydenham Youth Club And The Education Board For Northern Ireland

The Palmerston Residents Association intends to call a public meeting after it consults with its executive committee this month the association has been in contact with the Education Minister for Northern Ireland and the Ministers Officials and Chief Executive at their Belfast Headquarters 40 Academy Street Belfast. The Chairman of the Residents Association is intending to call this meeting due to the lack of a response to its letter to the board of the 5th August when it raised concerns regarding Health and Safety issues at the Sydenham youth centre Palmerston Road. We would ask all interested parties who wish to attend this public meeting to please contact us by email at campaigns@palmerston-residents-association.org or by fax to 02890200988

Day Two In Who Is The Real Friend Of Victoria Park and The Community Who Use It Is It Belfast City Council Or George Best Belfast City Airport

These are the latest photographs taken by Palmerston Residents Association of Victoria Park and the state of decline it is in. We can see from the first two photographs how the island has washed away with out repair and how the trees on the island are being let fall into the lake because the banks are not being rebuilt.
We can also see in our photographs how the lake is allowed to be infested by rubbish and plastic bags which may result in a hazard to one of our children who may try and remove this bike that looks as though it was dumped sometime ago. Once more the Residents Association has had to come to the aid of this great park.
We ask our councillors how can we gain respect from our younger generation when they see how our council looks after one of our most valuable assets. We hear a lot about our young people and anti social behaviour yet the council lets this happen to one of their historical sites.
How can we expect our young people to have a sense of pride for the park when the council lets it fall into disrepair and locks everything. Every human being uses a toilet we ask who is the real friend of Victoria Park is it the Airport or the Council follow our articles every day this week and we will let you know

Palmerston Residents Association Says Thank you Northern Ireland Railways

The Palmerston Residents Association say thank you to Northern Ireland Railways in agreeing to let the association erect one of their community notice boards at Sydenham Station Halt, and also to the association taking care of the station. The Residents Association have always been keen to look after Sydenham Station as we feel it is the shop window to Sydenham, we want to show our visitors that Sydenham is a pleasant place to live and a nice place to visit. We intend to plant flowers and in the summer months put up hanging baskets, we hope to make the station much more appealing to the members of the public that use the station to commute to work helping both Northern Ireland Railway and the Palmerston Residents Association get more commuters out of their cars and on to public transport. The residents association feels if the community look after their own station it will give them pride in having a show station on their doorsteps. The Residents Association want the commuters to stop and visit Sydenham as it has a lot of places to see, including The Den Station Road where Gustav Wilhelm Wolff once lived and the Smiles Family Home Westbank House that use to stand on the Palmerston Road. You can also see the tree lined hill that was known as Bunkers Hill named after the Battle of Bunkers Hill in the American Civil War, we also have the home of Stewart James Parker the play write, you can also visit St Marks Church and see where CS Lewis attended Church, we also have some great parks in the area including Victoria Park one of the oldest parks in Belfast all within walking distance of Sydenham Station. we have several Churches in the area that always have something going on. The Sydenham Methodist Church which stands at the corner of Station Road and Palmerston Road, the Salvation Army Headquarters stands just on the other side of the road from the Sydenham Methodist Church, if you walk a little bit further you will see the Church of Ireland on the Larkfield Road and St Marks Church on the Holywood Road. Alternately if you feel you would like to see what is going on in the community you can call at the Inverary Community Centre on Inverary Drive where there is something good taking place every day. Maybe you just want a quite walk so why not try the Tommy Patton Memorial Park. Sydenham is a great place to visit with lots to see, the Palmerston Residents Association take a pride in the history of the area and are proud to show it off. We hope to be including shortly to our attractions our community allotments, and if permission is given by the Belfast City Council its very first Farmers Market to be held in the grounds of the Church of Ireland on the Larkfield Road. Once again we thank all the people who are supporting us, and the backing we have been given on a few of our projects including the tree protection orders on the trees at Bunkers Hill on the Palmerston Road. The spot listing of the Gustav Wolff Cottages at The Den Station Road and the support we have raised for a commemoration for The Smiles Family on The Palmerston Road, also Northern Ireland Railways for agreeing to help our community even further by showing the community that it respects all that it is trying to achieve by letting us take care of our visitors and making Sydenham Station one of the prime stations on the Network

George Best Belfast City Airport Palmerston Residents Association Chairman Says Thank You To The Chief Executive Brian Ambrose

Terry Hoey Chairman of the Palmerston Residents Association would like to thank George Best Belfast City Airport and the Chief Executive Brian Ambrose and his staff for their time and hospitality given to the members of the Palmerston Residents Association in organising a tour of the airport complex. We also want to say thank you to the Airport Fire Department for taking the to explain the job they do at George Best Belfast City Airport, the major incident plans that are in place and the reassurances they give our members, in the event of any major incident that may take place on any of the approaches to the airport. We would thank the radar room for their time to explain in great detail how they control the flights that approach George Best Belfast City Airport, the management structure that is in place to manage incoming Flights coming up the Belfast Lough approach, we were surprised to see aircraft on the screen that would be landing at Belfast International Airport. It was fascinating to watch and witness the skill the radar operator had,we also want to thank the control tower management in taking time to explain what their job entailed and describe in great detail how they manage the aircraft when landing at the complex. The Residents Association put questions to the management staff of all the departments on issues that were of concern to us, and we thank them for the time they took reassuring our members on how they dealt with their Jobs and responsibilities. We raised concerns regarding the bird population of Victoria Park and how they are managing it, also the larger planes landing and taking off from the airport. We raised concerns regarding signage at the airport and the provision of first aid facilities. we also raised concerns regarding disabled passengers and prayer room provision. The Residents Association met with with Mr Brian Ambrose who give the members of the Residents Association time to ask questions on any issues we had. we discussed aircraft noise, Victoria Park ,a Community fund and how the airport should remember the history that surrounds the site of George Best Belfast City Airport, and how the airport main entrance may be used to depict the history of Short Brothers and Harland by exhibiting the aircraft Short Brothers and Harland Built and took off from this airport, also the history connected with the RAF in the Second World War. The Residents Association extended an invitation to Mr Ambrose to attend one of our executive meetings and we are very pleased to say he agreed, I as chairman of the Palmerston Residents Association would once again like to thank Mr Ambrose and his staff for taking the time to meet with us. I can assure the other members of the Residents Association that he give us the time to put any questions to him and he answered them all, his staff escorted us around the complex and listened to all our concerns I would also say thank you to all his staff who escorted us around the complex. This was a very worthwhile visit Many thanks from the members who attended
Chairman of the Palmerston Residents Association Terry Hoey
Members in attendance Tony Gregory, Sam Budde
East Belfast Community Development Agency Chris Deconnink
Sydenham Community Partnership Members Terry Hoey, Chris Deconnink.

Smiles Campaign Receives another Boost With Support From The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Mr Sammy Douglas MBE The Palmerston Residents Associa

The Palmerston Residents Association would like thank the Democratic Unionist Party and Mr Sammy Douglas MBE for their full support given to our Campaign to have a commemoration for William Holmes Smiles erected on the out side of the new building that now replaces their former home Westbank House on the Palmerston Road Sydenham. The Palmerston Residents Association has been actively involved in trying to persuade the new owners Wesley Housing Association Ltd to have a commemoration for the Smiles Family placed out side their new building, to mark what this great family did for East Belfast and the sacrifice their sons made in the second world war. The Residents Association feel this part of our history must be remembered in a fitting way, and feel Wesley Housing Association Ltd should give back to the people of East Belfast and Northern Ireland part of their true history taken away when the Smiles family home was demolished to make way for their new development. The Residents Association are pleased by the support from the Northern Ireland Assembly Parties in our Campaigns to have both Gustav Wilhelm Wolff and William Holmes Smiles Commemorated. Special thanks to Minster Sammy Wilson of the Democratic Unionist Party for the support he has given in spot listing The Den on the Station Road the home of Gustav Wilhelm Wolff, he has shown how important it is to protect our history for our Children and further generations.

Palmerston Residents Association Commemoration Campaign Says Thank You To Sir Reg Empey Of The Ulster Unionst Party

The Palmerston Residents Association wish to thank Cllr Sir Reg Empey MLA and leader of the Ulster Unionst Party for Northern Ireland in his outright support for our Campaign to have a commemoration for the Smiles Family placed outside the new development, which now replaces the home of the one of the founder members of the Belfast Rope Works one of the largest in the world. The Association has been in contact with the new owners of the site Wesley Housing Association Ltd Carrickfergus, in an effort to get them to change ther minds on a Commemoration for this great family being placed some where inside the new building. The Association feels this would just not be a suitable Commemoration as it would exclude the public to veiw it. The Association has always stated that any sort of Commemoration should be placed outside to enable our residents and our children to see the important familys who lived in our area, and how they were part of Northern Irelands great industrial history as a world leader in Shipbuiding,Aircraft Innovation and Rope Making. The Association looks to its present day Industry to support our Campaign in remembering what acheviements were made in Northern Ireland, and bringing them to the fore giving our children a sense of belonging to what was once a great Industrial nation and a part of history that we should encourage them to be proud of, many Thanks Sir Reg from the Palmerston Residents AssociationChairman Terry Hoey

Edit Article - William Homes Smiles Commemoration Campaign - Zimbio

Edit Article - William Homes Smiles Commemoration Campaign - Zimbio

Palmerston Residents Association Commemoration Campaign For William Homes Smiles and Gustav Wilhelm Wolff Founders of the Belfast Rope Works

William Homes Smiles, who founded the Belfast Rope Works in the early 1870s,was the son of Dr Samual Smiles,the author of the Victorian classic,Self Help. William Smiles lived at Westbank House on the Palmerston Road Sydenham Belfast Co Antrim Northern Ireland. Mrs Lucy Smiles was half sister to Mrs Beeton the Victorian cookery expert. The Smiles family had eleven children. William Smiles and Gustav Wolff of Harland and Wolff Belfast founded the Belfast Rope Works in the second World War one third of the ropes required by the war office (a quarter of a million tons were made at the Belfast Rope Works, in addition it manufactured 50,000 camouflage and cargo nets. The Smiles family give a lot to Northern Ireland they also give their two sons who were both killed in action 2nd Lieutenant Samuel Smiles1st Battalion Royal Irish Rifles. killed in Action 16th August 1917, aged 36 years, and Captain William Alan Smiles 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles, killed in Action 9th July 1916 aged 34 years Lt-Col.Sir Walter Dorling Smiles CIE DSO ( 8 November 1883-31 January 1953) was a member of Parliament for Blackburn from1931 to 1945 Smiles was re-elected in 1935 but stood for Down Northern Ireland in the 1945 Westminister election as a Unionist. The constituency was split in 1950 into North and South Down. Smiles won North Down that year and remained its MP until his death in 1953. He lost his life in the sinking of the Princess Victoria of Larne Lough in the Great Storm. The Palmerston Residents Association wants to have this great family commemorated at the site where Westbank House once stood at Palmerston Road Sydenham before it was demolished to make way for a new development. The Palmerston Residents Association have made contact with Wesley Housing Association Ltd who now own the new development seeking their agreement to have some type of commemoration at the new site to enable our children and our visitors to see where this great family once lived and to mark their place in Northern Ireland History. At present we are at odds with Wesley Housing Association where we would like the commemoration placed, they feel it would be better on the inside of the building but we feel it should take its place on the outside of the building in the grounds to enable every one to veiw it. We will keep you updated on our campaign to have this family properly commemorated for the people of Sydenham and Ireland Northern and assuring their place in our history

Palmerston Residents Association Say Thank You To The Sydenham Methodist Church And East Belfast Community Development Agency And The Department Of So

The Palmerston Residents Association would like to thank The Sydenham Methodist Church for letting them erect the first community notice board in their car park. The residents association would also like to thank the East Belfast Community Development Agency and the Department of Social Development for sponsoring us. This board is one of three to be erected in the area, we would also like to thank the Church of Ireland on the Larkfield Road and the Victoria Park Primary School for agreeing to let us erect boards on their sites. The Residents Association decided to erect the notice boards to keep the local community updated on events taking place in the area and also to advertise local jobs we feel this will be community building and the boards are the first of their kind in the area

The Palmerston Residents Association Fears For The Trees At Victoria Park If Road Widening Takes Place On The A2 Sydenham Bypass

In widening the A2 Sydenham Bypass from a dual 2-lane carriageway to a 3 lane carriageway involves limited land take from Victoria Park we are concerned that trees that stand on this land will be lost, the Residents Association feels that if the trees are removed from the park it will change the whole concept of the park leaving it unprotected from any new motorway lane that is built. Victoria Park was first suggested by the Harbour Commissioner in 1854 and the Park was opened to the public in 1906 due to its rich variety of wildlife, the open water in Victoria Park is part of the Belfast Lough and is an area of special scientific Interest. Today Victoria Park is home to a range of water birds such as swans, geese, ducks, herons, and migrant waders,the main features to the park is the lake and its two islands which are home to some of the wildlife that live in the park. The park is ideal for walking and covers approximate 1mile to walk round its river with the tree planting that has taken place over the years, it has many pleasant tree lined walks which also give shelter for many small birds.

Victoria Park also sits beside Harland and Wolff and the Shorts Aircraft Building where you can get some great photo shots of the Harland and Wolff cranes Samson and Goliath. The park also has two bowling greens and pavilion one of which is under threat if the A2 widening takes place it also has Football Playing Fields, car parking,cycle/bmx tracks,flower beds,model boat lake, rose beds, tennis pitch, children's play area and band stand,we have watched this great park fall into decline over the past few years we have seen one of its great islands being washed away without being rebuilt and protected. We have seen our children's play area fall into decline and the lakes becoming overgrown by weeds and grass.

The residents association fears further for the park if the decline is not stopped we need to see the entrance to the park made safer, the underpass between Sydenham and Victoria Park cleaned up and made safe by installing new lights and the gates to the park moved to the entrance of the underpass and gates erected on the slipways from the Sydenham Bypass. The under pass also needs a footpath for pedestrians, wheelchair users and young mothers. The Residents Association has been fighting for a year now to have the toilet block opened up again after it was closed 9 years ago, the need for toilets in the park is great and the need for disabled toilets is of even greater importance. The Residents Association feels that the Belfast City Council are missing a great opportunity in the park by not leasing out space to a coffee kiosk and newspaper kiosk to raise funds for the park it could also be used to hold outdoor events as it has rail links, airport links, road links,and is also sitting by The Connswater Community Greenway Project.

The Residents Association has also ask Translink to look at the reinstatement of Victoria Halt on the Bangor Track as this would enable passengers from all over Northern Ireland to use Victoria Park and the Greenway Project. The Residents Association feels Victoria Park could be and should be as good as central park in New York it is an asset that Belfast needs to go along side the Titanic Quarter also creating jobs for East Belfast the Residents Association ask all our residents to lobby your councillors and MLA's to put more funding into regenerating this great asset and stop its decline as the only danger victoria park faces is Vision and Funding

Gustav Wilhelm Wolff Home Still Under Threat Is The Northern Ireland Environment & Heritage Service Dragging Its Feet On This Issue Ask The Palmerston

We are sorry to report to our residents that we have no contact from the Northern Ireland Environment & Heritage Service, with regard to having the home where Gustav Wilhelm Wolff once lived listed as part of our Historic Buildings on behalf of the residents of East Belfast. The Northern Ireland Environment & Heritage Service contacted the residents association on the 28th March 2008 and since then we have had no contact with them, in that correspondence they stated that they hoped to be in a position to provide us with a substantive response to our correspondence in the next few weeks to date the residents association has not received any such response.
We feel this issue should have been dealt with long ago as this home is part of the history of Northern Ireland and our great shipbuilding history. Gustav Wilhelm Wolff one of the founders of Harland & Wolff also co founder of the Belfast Rope Works, was a resident of The Den Station Road Belfast Northern Ireland. He achieved great work for the people of East Belfast, he supported the Ulster Hospital for Sick Children he was also involved in the establishment of ballymacarret, although Gustav Wilhelm Wolff was born in Hamburg on the 10th October 1843 he was a true son of East Belfast
The Residents of East Belfast have nothing to commemorate this great man as he is buried at the Brompton Cemetery. Gustav Wilhelm Wolff received the freedom of the city of Belfast on the 18th February 1911 he died at 2.00am on 17th April,one day and one year after the sinking of the Titanic (Clara May's Diary Notes) out of respect to his memory, the flag at the City Hall was flown at half mast and a special meeting of the Belfast Corporation Committee a Resolution was passed expressing deep sympathy with the relatives and admiration for Mr Wolff's independence and nobility of character
The Residents Association feels that Sydenham was the home of Gustav Wilhelm Wolff and East Belfast Is the home of Harland & Wolff a ship from the H&W yard was a Belfast Boat,as affectionately referred to by the workforce. Gustav Wilhelm Wolff was referred to by the Belfast Corporation Committee as Nobility of Character. Dedication by Gustav Wolff and Sir Edward Harland and the great workforce went into each and every ship built in the yard this is Northern Irelands History and we should be proud of it WE ASK THE NORTHERN IRELAND ENVIRONMENT & HERITAGE SERVICE TO PROTECT OUR HISTORY AND OUR CHILDRENS HISTORY PROTECT THE DEN ON STATION ROAD AS PART OF THEIR HISTORY AND FOR THE MEN WHO LOST LIVES AND FOR THE MEN WHO WORKED IN THE BIGGEST SHIPYARD IN THE WORLD HARLAND AND WOLFF ALSO FOR THE PROUD PEOPLE OF SYDENHAM DISTRICT

Terry Hoey Chairman of the Palmerston Residents Association has set up The East Belfast Homeowners Coalition of Northern Ireland

The East Belfast Homeowners Coalition Northern Ireland why this Coalition has been formed I Terry Hoey has been Chairman of the Palmerston Residents Association since it was set up in 2007, we have met with many of our political parties in East Belfast. We have also met with many community groups and people who have not yet set up any sort of group in their own area, we have found just how hard it is to get our politicians to listen. As Homeowners we have seen our much loved areas being torn down only to be told by our politicians that its happening everywhere we have seen our trees cut down only to be told also that its happening everywhere. This is not the answer we wanted to hear we wanted them to act and get it stopped they failed to see that this was our area that we have all bought into and invested a lot of our money. It has taken us a lot of time to find a place where we wanted to live, Some residents have lived in their area all their lives and have bought and paid for their homes only to see their history and their children's history ripped down at will. They tell us we a Terry Hoey Chairman of the Palmerston Residents Association has set up The East Belfast Homeowners Coalition of Northern Ireland against change we are against apartments that statement just is not true we are against developers moving in overnight to change our areas at will without consulting with the residents that already live in the area. If we buy a car and someone goes out and paints it a different colour we can take them up for criminal damage yet we buy a home in an area we love and developers can move into it and change it at will and we cannot do anything about it. The laws need to be changed we see our schools being moved or closed and still we are told its all down to someone else, but they fail to see we want them to act. The biggest changes in East Belfast are being planned now we as homeowners need to have a voice in what is taking place on our door steps we need to empower our communities and organise now. We need to let our politicians know that we want a say on what goes on in our areas and we want to be involved in the process and not be told what is going on by people who do not come or even live in the areas that they are planning to change. The East Belfast Homeowners Coalition is set up to empower Homeowner Residents Groups to form to gather and fight for the rights of all our Homeowner Residents groups while maintaining their own individual groups and to have Homeowner Residents Groups elect members onto The East Belfast Homeowners Coalition to lobby for change in their areas. Unite To Stop Unwanted Change Happening In Your Area.Join The The East Belfast Homeowners Collation contact terryhoey@gmail.com