City Matters April 2015

April - June 2015
Win £200
of Lidl
vouchers
Linking up the city p4
Tall ships are coming p7
Rates update p14
Investment Programme p18
www.belfastcity.gov.uk/citymatters
Services
Council venues and buildings
A-Z of council services
a
Abandoned Vehicles
Asbestos 0800 032 8100
0800 032 8100
g
Good Relations
Graffiti Removal
b
Belfast Policing and Community Safety
Partnership 9027 0556
Belfast Waterfront
Administration and enquiries9033 4400
Box Office and bookings 9033 4455
Bin and container sales 0800 032 8100
Births - Registration
9027 0274
Blue bin enquiries 0800 032 8100
Building Control
General enquiries
9027 0650
Technical helpline
9027 0432
Bulky household waste
and special collections 9027 0230
h
Health and Environmental Services
Emergency (after hours) 07850 499622
Home Safety
9027 0428
i
Industrial Estates
9027 0510
j
Jobline www.belfastcity.gov.uk/jobs
9027 0481
l
Licensing 9027 0650
n
Night-time Noise Hotline
9037 3006
p
Parks 9032 0202
Pest Control
9027 0431
Planning (Belfast Planning Service)
c
d
e
f
2
Car parking
Cashless parking (Park Mobile)9575 7988
General enquiries
0845 603 9337
Parking tickets 0845 300 0613
Season tickets 9334 4007
Tariff and car park conditions 9027 0428
Cemeteries Office
Mon-Thur 8.30am-5.00pm (Fri 4.30pm)
9027 0296
Sat 8.30am-12.30pm
City Cemetery
9032 3112
City of Belfast Golf Club
9083 2111
Civic amenity sites 0800 032 8100
Civil partnerships
9027 0274
Community Services
9027 0346
Complaints Helpline
9027 0270
Consumer Advice
9032 8260
Consumer Safety
9027 0428
Corporate Plan
9027 0234
Crematorium
9044 8342
Culture, Arts and Heritage 9027 0426
Dangerous Structures
Dead Animal Removal Deaths - Registration
Dog Warden Service
Dundonald Cemetery
9027 0650
9027 0230
9027 0274
9027 0431
9048 0193
Economic Development
9027 0482
Entertainment Licensing
9027 0650
Environmental Health
9027 0428
EPC enforcement
9027 0650
Equality Officer (Freefone) 0800 0855 412
European Unit
9027 0317
Events
Visit Belfast Welcome Centre 9024 6609
Leisure and Sporting 9027 0345
Parks
9091 8768
Fly Poster Removal
Fly Tipping (Illegal dumping) Food Safety
Forest of Belfast Officer
Freedom of Information
CityMatters
April - June 2015
9027 0230
9027 0230
9027 0468
9072 6345
9027 0639
9027 0663
9027 0230
0300 200 7830
Pollution Control
9027 0428
Port Health
9035 1199
Postal Numbering
9027 0650
Property Certificates
9027 0650
Public Toilets
0800 032 8100
Public Health and Housing 9027 0428
r
s
t
Recycling Centres
0800 032 8100
Recycling Helpline
0800 032 8100
Refuse Collection
Customer Contact Centre 9027 0230
Registration of Births,
Deaths, Marriages and
Civil Partnerships
9027 0274
Roselawn Bus Service 9027 0296
Roselawn Cemetery
9044 8288
Smoke Hotline
Street Cleansing
Enquiries
Street Naming
Sunday Opening Hours
9027 0428
9027 0230
9027 0650
9027 0650
Textphone 9027 0405
Tourism
9027 0426
Travellers’ community liaison 9032 0202
ext 3527
Belfast Castle
Belfast Waterfront
Cecil Ward Building
Adelaide Exchange
Adelaide Exchange
(textphone)
Consumer Advice Centre
Malone House
Smithfield Market
St George’s Market
Ulster Hall Visit Belfast Welcome Centre
Zoo information line
9077 6925
9033 4400
9032 0202
9032 0202
9027 0405
9032 8260
9068 1246
9032 3248
9043 5704
9033 4400
9024 6609
9077 6277
Leisure and recreation centres
Andersonstown Leisure Centre 9521 1048
Avoniel Leisure Centre 9521 1068
Ballysillan Leisure Centre 9521 3645
Belvoir Leisure Centre 9064 2174
Brook Activity Centre 9030 1848
Falls Leisure Centre 9521 3665
Grove Wellbeing Centre 9521 3685
Indoor Tennis Centre and Ozone Complex 9521 3705
Loughside Recreation Centre 9521 1000
Olympia Leisure Centre 9521 3725
Outdoor Pitch Hotline 9027 0677
Robinson Leisure Centre 9070 3948
Shankill Leisure Centre 9521 3745
Whiterock Leisure Centre 9521 3775
Some other services for which
the council is not responsible
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust
9056 5656
Department of the Environment (DOE)
Water Pollution 0800 807060
Department for Regional Development
(DRD) Roads Service Flooding incident line
9054 0540
0300 2000 100
Libraries NI
028 3752 0738
Northern Ireland Housing Executive
General enquiries
(8.30am-5pm)
03448 920 900
Housing Benefit enquiries
(8.30am-5pm) 03448 920 902
Repairs 03448 920 901
Rate Collection
Land & Property Services 0300 200 7801
Schools
Belfast Education and
Library Board
9056 4000
Council for Catholic
Maintained Schools
9042 6972
w Waste Management Service
Street Lighting (fault reporting) DRD
0800 032 8100 9025 3051
Weddings
9027 0274 Water
Northern Ireland Water
Customer Service Enquiries 08457 440088
www.belfastcity.gov.uk/atoz Leakline (water mains only) 08000 282011
u
Ulster Hall 9033 4400
Contents
4 Linking up the city!
7 Tall ships are coming!
11 Future Belfast
14 Rates
18 Investment Programme
26 Celebrated citizen – Brian Irvine
27 Competition
28 A tropical memory
Enjoy a fun family day out at our Spring Fair on Sat 12 to Sun 13 April at Barnett Demesne.
29 Festival round-up
In this edition
30 Zoo
Welcome to the spring edition of
City Matters and a new era for
Belfast City Council.
32 Green section
35 Consumer advice
36 Seniors’ section
38 What’s on
41 Members’ directory
Belfast City Council
Belfast City Hall, Belfast, BT1 5GS
Tel: 9032 0202
Textphone: 9027 0405
We're committed to making sure that
our services are available to all sections of
the community. City Matters is available in
Braille, DAISY, audio and large print. We
will consider providing it in other formats if
requested. Please call 9032 0202 ext 6253.
City Matters is published by Belfast City
Council and delivered to over 150,000
addresses in Belfast.
Belfast City Council is not responsible for the
content of advertisements or advertorial.
This bumper edition gives lots of
information on our plans for the
city as we move forward as a brand
new council (pages 11 to 13).
And we’re delighted to announce
another rates freeze for the third
year in a row! Turn to pages 14 to
17 to find out what your rates pay
for, how the rate bill is made up
and how this will affect residents
joining our council boundary.
Our new public bike share scheme
kicks off on page four and, with
Belfast hosting the Tall Ships Races
2015, we’ve got inside information
from the crew and details of this
world-class event on page seven.
Don’t miss our pullout section
(pages 18 to 25), with gives details
of how we’re continuing to invest in
the city.
Brian Irvine, Belfast’s first ever
Music Laureate, is our Celebrated
citizen on page 26 and catch up
This magazine
is printed on
recycled paper.
© Belfast City Council 2015. No article
or photograph in this magazine may be
reproduced without the consent of the Editor.
on a fantastic festival round-up on
page 29.
Keep the kids entertained this
spring with the opening of the
Zoo’s new Adventurers’ learning
centre (page 30) and a wide range
of newly refurbished playgrounds
(page 31).
Our Green section (pages 32 to 33)
explains how our recycling success
has helped support hundreds of
local jobs, and we keep you up to
date on how to reuse your waste.
We’ve got budgeting advice on
page 35, along with information on
the relocation of our Consumer
Advice Centre.
And find out how you can
celebrate Silver Surfers’ Day in our
Seniors’ section (pages 36 to 37).
Our regular What’s on guide (pages
38 to 40) has the latest events that
are happening across the city. And
finally, check out our competition
on page 27 for your chance to win
£200 of Lidl vouchers!
Have any comments or queries about City Matters?
Call us on 9032 0202 ext 6253 or
email [email protected]
www.belfastcity.gov.uk
CityMatters
April - June 2015
3
What's new
Funding boost
for a creative and
cultural Belfast
We’ve been working with the Arts
Council of Northern Ireland to launch three new bold and ambitious
arts projects.
Belfast Carnival Village
Fusing dance, music, circus
and carnival, BEAT Carnival
will create a vibrant carnival
village complete with
miniature Belfast landmarks
like Samson and Goliath.
The Intercultural Tempest
A Belfast re-imagining
of one of Shakespeare’s
best-loved plays,
bringing together a professional and
community cast to stage a spectacle
with original music, pyrotechnics and
even a touch of magic.
Linenopolis
Linking up the city!
Belfast has joined the top cities
around the world with the launch of
our new public bike share scheme
this spring.The Coca-Cola Zero
Belfast Bikes will be live in April and
ready to take you across the city
quickly, easily and at a very low cost.
Simply hire a bike, pedal to your
destination and dock it again, what
could be simpler?
There are 300 public bicycles, located
at 30 docking stations spanning the
city centre area from the Odyssey to
Central Station and Bradbury Place
to York Street.
Here’s how it works:
To use the Coca-Cola
Zero Belfast Bikes, you
must register at www.belfastbikes.co.uk
Belfast Buildings Trust will work with NI
Opera and various community groups
to create Belfast’s first chamber opera
inspired by our unique industrial history.
These projects are the latest additions
to the Creative and Cultural Belfast
family. Last year, we announced the first
four projects:
•the world’s first babyday on 27 September 2015;
•Nine Nights, retelling centuries-old
Hindu folklore, on 24 October 2015;
•a new Draw Down the Walls public
art commission; and
•a celebration of the river Béal Feirste
(Farset), finishing in a spectacular
Solstice festival in 2016.
Go to www.belfastcity.gov.uk/
creativebelfast to find out more.
4
CityMatters
April - June 2015
Annual registration costs
£20 for the year. Casual users
can register for a three day
membership for just £5.
Once you’re a member,
the first 30 minutes
FIRST of each trip are free
and small incremental
MINS changes apply thereafter.
30
Charging stops when
the bike is returned to any of the docking stations.
Whether you’re meeting friends for
lunch, dashing to a meeting, cycling
from the bus or train to work or
travelling to university or college,
bike share is quick, affordable, easy –
and a fun way to get around.
Tips for safer cycling
DO be aware of blind spots
around large vehicles.
DO watch out for other
vehicles and pedestrians
and show your intentions by
giving clear hand signals.
DO make yourself seen by
wearing bright clothing in the
day and reflective clothing or
accessories at night.
DO wear a helmet.
DO leave extra space when
cycling by parked cars.
DO dismount and wheel the
bike through pedestrian areas.
DON'T cycle through red
traffic lights (you may receive
a fine!)
DON'T cycle on the pavement
or the wrong way up one-way
streets (unless clearly marked
for cyclists).
DON'T use a mobile phone
while cycling.
DON'T ride a bike when under
the influence of alcohol or drugs.
DON'T cycle in the gutter - if
the road is narrow, it may
be safer to ride towards the
middle of the lane to prevent
dangerous overtaking.
DON'T ride ‘hands free’.
DON’T undertake vehicles if
they are turning left.
This Investment Programme project
has been financed by the Department
for Regional Development (DRD),
with NSL operating the scheme, and
NextBike providing the equipment.
For more information go to
www.belfastbikes.co.uk or call the
helpline 03433 571551
You can also download the free
Belfast Bikes app for iOS or Android
for your smartphone.
Only in Belfast
As the days get longer and the
weather improves, Visit Belfast
heads outdoors.
Belfast gears up
for Easter rally
Europe’s top rally drivers will
be gearing up over a three day
period this Easter weekend
(Thursday 2 to Saturday 4
April) as we welcome the
2015 Circuit of Ireland Rally.
140 rally cars and a carnival
atmosphere for all the family
to enjoy.
The Circuit will run across
counties Antrim and Down on
Friday 3 and Saturday 4 April.
Belfast is a key partner and
The winner will be crowned
host of the international event, in Titanic Quarter after
which last year attracted 74,000 finishing in Belfast on Saturday
spectators and over 14 million evening. Titanic Quarter will
viewers of televised coverage.
also host the Rally HQ and
Service Park, welcoming
Why not come along and
over 1,000 competitors and
enjoy the special ceremonial
team members. And you can
start outside Belfast City Hall
visit the Service Park free of
on Thursday 2 April at 6pm?
charge, meet the drivers and
There’ll be a parade of up to
see many of the rally cars!
For more information on the 2015 Circuit of Ireland
go to www.circuitofireland.net
@CircuitIreland
circuitofireland
Fa F
mi RE
ly E
ev
en
t
“As the world’s only Titanic boat trip, our
tour combines stories and unique views of
Belfast’s port, the Titanic Quarter, visiting
cruise liners and the city’s only seal colony
for a truly memorable experience. We
have three sailings a day and tickets are
available online or in our shop.”
Captain Derek Booker OBE, Titanic Boat Tour
www.laganboatcompany.com
“At Belfast’s Window on Wildlife project
(WOW), you’ll be amazed how much
wildlife there is just 10 minutes from the
city centre. Hundreds of birds flock here at
high tide and you can see them at incredibly
close quarters from the visitor centre or
hides. Whether you’re an avid birder, or just
want to enjoy nature, you’ll be WOWed!”
Judith Carville, Royal Society for the Protection
of Birds NI
www.rspb.org.uk
“Come and share the fun and friendliness
of the Belfast City Cycle Tour! Three
hours of craic, conversational cycling with
refreshments and sightseeing stops on our
eco-friendly, super-safe and comfy City
Cruiser bikes. We get to places other tours
can't. Check out our Tripadvisor, Facebook and Twitter
pages. We also hire cruiser, hybrid, touring and road bikes.”
Gary Sloan, Manager, Belfast City Bike Tours
www.belfastcitybiketours.com
Malone House and Barnett Demesne
“The best way to get to know a city is through
its food. The Belfast Food Tour visits up to
eight foodie destinations over a 3.5 hour
period, including St George’s Market. The tour
is for everyone, you just have to love good
food, enjoy a stroll and have an appetite!”
Caroline Wilson, Founder and
Guide, Belfast Food Tour
www.belfastfoodtour.com
Entertainment
Spring flower show
Family fun
Flowers, animals, plant and craft stalls, environmental activities
and children’s entertainment.
For information on what’s on, things to do and the
latest events, call into the Visit Belfast Welcome
Centre, opposite Belfast City Hall, on Donegall
Square North or go to www.visit-belfast.com
You can also get more details on
Facebook and Twitter
Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 April 2015
Free park and ride from the
Mary Peters Track carpark.
For more information visit our website.
www.belfastcity.gov.uk/parks
CityMatters
April - June 2015
5
Proud To Be Part Of
The Tall Ships Races 2015
welcomed by The Lidl Belfast Titanic Maritime Festival
4 Days, over 500,000 Visitors
Continental Markets, International Food & Drink,
Artisan Crafts And Vintage Markets.
The Ultimate Speciality Market Experience Across 5 Sites
www.marketplaceeurope.co.uk
Tall Ships 2015
Crew craic
Tall Ships Belfast have recruited 95 local crew
trainees to take part in the first leg of the
race, from Belfast to Ålesund in Norway. All
of the trainees are from Northern Ireland
and most are aged between 16 and 25. Host
port sponsor, Lidl is also funding eight of its
staff to take part in the trainee programme.
Sea survival training is well underway and we
spoke to a few of the trainees to find out how
they're feeling and what they're hoping to gain
from the experience.
"I’m really looking forward to
the challenge of both training
and the voyage itself. I can’t
wait to get to know my crew
members and engage with
crews from all over the world.
I’m so excited to take part
in this incredible adventure,
representing Northern Ireland.”
Tall ships
are coming!
Lau ra Stewar t
Sail Training International’s annual
flagship event, The Tall Ships
Races comes to Belfast from 2 to 5 July, welcomed by the Lidl
Belfast Titanic Maritime Festival.
The festival timings are:
• Thursday 2 July: 12 noon – 9pm
• Friday 3 July: 12 noon – 9pm
• Saturday 4 July: 10am – 10.30pm
• Sunday 5 July: 10am – 4pm
The vessels will dock along the
harbour from Queen’s Quay,
beside The Odyssey, to the Pollock
Dock area where the first tall
ships were hosted back in 1991.
On the final day of the festival, the
ships will form a magnificent flotilla
as they head for the start line of
the race along the north coast.
There’s something for everyone
at the four day event
from fairgrounds, musical
performances and street
theatre to fireworks,
continental markets and
international bars.There'll
also be an opportunity
to board and explore
some of the ships.
"I'm excited at the prospect of
learning new skills, embracing
my fears and making great
friends on this life changing
opportunity and I'll savour every
moment. I'm honoured to be an
ambassador for Belfast and Sail
Training International."
Amanda Kirkpa trick
To sign up for email updates, email
your name and email address to
[email protected]
“When the opportunity to sail
the high seas on board a tall ship
came around I jumped at the
chance. I'm going to volunteer
for the things that I'd normally
be pretty scared of, like climbing
a mast whilst at sea in bad
weather! Roll on summer 2015!
I can't wait!”
facebook/tallshipsbelfast
twitter.com/tallships2015
For information on The Tall
Ships Races call 9027 0533 or
go to www.tallshipsbelfast.com
Keith Fleming
“Not many people can say
they've helped win, or lose, a
race to Norway on a tall ship.
It's something that I can write
on personal statements and
university applications and I'm
hoping that the skills I take
away from the trip will help
me in later life.”
B en Finlay
CityMatters
April - June 2015
7
Spring into
Easter Festival
Put a spring in
your dog’s step
Spring is the perfect time to enjoy
the great outdoors by going on long
walks with your dog.
So when you're out and about with
your dog, please remember to be a
responsible dog owner by following
these tips:
• Carry a plastic bag or 'poop scoop'
with you.
• Never let your dog onto the street
on their own to foul.
• Respect dog-free areas.
• Make sure your dog has a licence.
Failure to pick up your dog's
mess or allowing your dog to
stray could lead to
an £80 fine.
Free bags for cleaning
up after your dog
are available from cleansing services. Just email
[email protected] or
call 9032 0202 ext 5239.
For more information contact our
Dog Warden Service by calling
9027 0431, emailing [email protected] or
go to www.belfastcity.gov.uk/dogwardens
Come along to Belfast City Hall this
Easter bank holiday on Saturday 4
to Tuesday 7 April, between 12 noon and 5pm.
We’ve got a cracking good line up of
free, family friendly entertainment in
store, including:
• arts and crafts activities,
• storytelling,
• drama, and
• children’s workshops.
For more information, call Visit
Belfast Welcome Centre on
9024 6609 or go to www.belfastcity.gov.uk/easter
A lot more
allotments
We’re making plans to improve Falls
Park, with the help of the friends
group, so that you'll have more fun
ways to enjoy the park.
We’ve already created a busy
community garden and refurbished
the children’s playground. And this
year, the Public Health Agency funded
an allotment site, offering 25 plots
for local residents, community groups
and schools in the area to grow their
vegetables, fruit, herbs and flowers.
If you’re interested in getting
involved in one of the community
allotments, then contact outdoor
leisure on 9027 0611 or email [email protected]
Your donations
help to save lives,
turn your pre-loved into re-loved and
donate to your local Action Cancer store.
Email: [email protected] Tel: 028 9080 3344 for large donations.
8
CityMatters
April - June 2015
BOILER
REPLACEMENT
ALLOWANCE
Available from
March 2015
Why replace your old oil boiler?
An inefficient old oil boiler can waste up to 40%
of the fuel it burns.1
Modern ‘A’ Rated condensing boilers are over
90% efficient. 2
Over the last 5 years, home heating oil has been
on average 20% more expensive than natural gas.3
Call 03454 55 55 55*
phoenixnaturalgas.com
Terms and conditions apply. Boiler Replacement Allowance is funded by the NI Executive. Level of grant available is dependent on total gross income of household and applies to boilers over 15 years old.
1. Source: Energy Saving Trust. 2. SEDBUK 2005. 3. Based on the average of all available PAYG tariffs for natural gas in the Greater Belfast area and the average price for 900 litres of oil in Northern Ireland as published
by the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland between 16/02/10 and 19/02/15. *Calls to 0345 numbers are charged at the same rate as calls to standard landline numbers starting with 01 and 02. The cost will be the
same if you are calling from a landline or mobile. If you have “free” minutes as part of your mobile phone tariff then calls to 0345 numbers should come out of that and there should be no additional charges on your bill.
Make the smart move
to better value
Translink have launched
Smartmoves; a new initiative
to help you find the best
value ticket for your journey.
compared with cash fares). Or
use DayLink smartcard (one,
five, 10 days) for unlimited day
travel in Belfast.
There are great travel offers
and promotions for both
commuters and leisure
customers and Translink are
urging passengers to look for
the best deal and start saving!
Rail passengers can make
additional savings by purchasing
weekly and monthly tickets
(with savings of between 19 and 28 per cent).
Metro users should choose
Smartlink and top up from five
to 40 journeys or a Travelcard
(save almost 40 per cent
The Translink Smartmoves
Team are visiting locations
across Belfast to advise you
on making the smart move
to the best value ticket.
Visit translink.co.uk/what-ticket/, call 9066 6630 or
tweet @Translink_NI to find out which ticket is best for
you! Download the free Journey Planner App from any
Google or Apple device to plan ahead.
The
smart
move
for relaxing, catching up
and saving.
#smartmovers
Want to get online, or
know someone who would?
We now have eight IT
hubs offering free access
to broadband. These are
located at:
•Dee Street Community Centre,
•Duncairn Community Centre,
•Hammer Community Centre,
•Highfield Community Centre,
•Horn Drive Community Centre,
•Markets Community Centre,
•Morton Community Centre, and
•Woodvale Community Centre.
Our partner organisations are
also running four IT hubs at:
•Carrick Hill Community Centre,
•Shaftesbury Community Centre,
•Frank Gillen Centre, and
•Short Strand Community Centre.
We’ll help you surf the net
in a fun and sociable setting
so that you can keep in
touch with family and friends,
use online services with
confidence and find out what’s
happening in your community
and across the globe. And
we’re also offering a variety
of free short sessions on
booking travel, using social
media, email and accessing
more services online.
If you’re part of a charitable
organisation and would
like to run an IT course or
programme, you can book the
IT Hub facilities for free!
Call into your local IT Hub, contact Roisin McKenna on 9027 0644 or email [email protected]
And if you’re already online, keep updated on
www.belfastcity.gov.uk/superconnectedcommunities
Why contact Building Control?
If you’re doing any work
to your home or business
you’ll need building
control approval for
most improvements and
alterations.
You can also contact our
Building Control Service
about:
•dangerous structures;
•entertainment, cinema,
petroleum and street
trading licensing;
Contact us and we'll tell
you if you need to make an •permits for amusement
arcades;
application and we'll check
•property certificates
if the work meets the
for conveyancing;
building regulations when
•street naming and
it's being carried out.
building numbering; and
You can find out
•enforcement of
about our planning
energy performance
responsibilities on
certificates and display
page 13.
energy certificates.
For more information call us on 9027 0650, email [email protected] or go to www.belfastcity.gov.uk/buildingcontrol
translink.co.uk/smartmoves
10
CityMatters
April - June 2015
You may also need planning permission for the work
you’re going to do. So remember to contact our Planning
Office for advice by phoning 0300 200 7830 or emailing
[email protected]
Future Belfast
April 2015 marks a new era for
Belfast. The opportunities that
local government reform bring
means that we'll be even better
equipped to serve you, our
ratepayers.
transferring powers including:
From April 2015
•our community planning role, and
•our new planning powers (including the
production of a local development plan).
Set out a long term plan to improve social,
economic and environmental wellbeing.
We're now leading a community
planning process which will help
us and other public services
(as well as key city partners
and communities) work better
together to build and deliver a
shared plan for improving the
wellbeing of everyone in Belfast.
From April 2016
•additional urban regeneration, and
•community development powers.
Outline how all partner organisations
will work to achieve these goals.
Demonstrate the differences we’re
making.
We’ll continue to shape the
development of our city through
the combination of our new and
This will ensure that investment and
regeneration focuses on delivering real
improvements for everyone who lives,
works, studies, visits and invests in Belfast.
To help make this happen, in line with
our new community planning role, we’re
developing a shared long-term plan for
the city, known as the Belfast Agenda.
The Belfast Agenda will:
Identify key priorities and actions for the
next four years for delivering this plan.
We hope to publish a draft Belfast Agenda
for consultation in the autumn. To help
shape it we’re working with key partners
and using research and evidence to help
us identify where we might need to focus
attention and make improvements.
Residents’ survey results
As part of preparing for the Belfast Agenda, we’ve also carried out a residents’ survey with over 1,500 people in the new
Belfast council area, asking their opinions of life and their priorities for the city and improving services.
92 per cent are
satisfied with Belfast
as a place to live
Top three economic priorities:
1Creating jobs
2Improving
skills and
employability
3Attracting
investment
86 per cent are
satisfied with their
local area
Top three social priorities:
1Improving safety,
reducing crime and
antisocial behaviour
2Improving
community
relations
3Improving
people’s health
and wellbeing
Top three environmental priorities:
1Creating a
cleaner and more
attractive city
2Managing
waste
3Energy efficiency
and investment
in renewable
technology
This evidence will help to shape the Belfast Agenda for the city. This spring, we’ll be talking to people across Belfast about
where we should focus our efforts. Look out for more information on engagement events and our progress on building the
Belfast Agenda at www.belfastcity.gov.uk/communityplanning
CityMatters
April - June 2015
11
Our new powers
Belfast Planning Service
From Wednesday 1 April 2015, we’re
responsible for delivering planning
functions in Belfast. This means that:
• new applications for planning
permission must be submitted to us for
a decision; and
• existing applications that haven't been
decided will transfer to us to process.
Where to find us
Our new public office, open from
Wednesday 1 April, is located at the Cecil
Ward Building at 4 – 10 Linenhall Street,
BT2 8BP (directly behind City Hall). It's
open to the public fromCity
9.30am
Hall to 4.30pm,
Monday to Friday.
How to apply for planning permission
Step
Go to www.belfastcity.gov.uk/planning and download an application form by clicking on the NI
Planning Portal link, or pick up an application form at our public office on Linenhall Street.
Step
Submit your form, fee and supporting
documentation in person, or by post, to our
Belfast Planning Service at:
Cecil Ward Building
4-10 Linenhall Street
Belfast
BT2 8BP
Applications must be accompanied by the
appropriate fee to be processed (For more detail
on fees go to www.belfastcity.gov.uk/planning
and click on the NI Planning Portal link). You
can pay your fee with a cheque made payable to
'Belfast City Council', or by debit or credit card.
For advice on an application, or to make an appointment to speak to an officer, call 0300 200 7830, email
[email protected] or go to www.belfastcity.gov.uk/planning
12
CityMatters
April - June 2015
Help for Belfast businesses
Parking in the city
From Wednesday 1 April, we’ll also take responsibility for
30 car parks that were previously owned and managed
by the Department for Regional Development (DRD).
We'll also create a new parking strategy for Belfast to
help businesses and shoppers.
Of our new 30 car parks, 13 are free to use and
17 charge for parking.
Free to use car parks
Charged car parks
Dundela Crescent
Glenburn Road
Grampian Avenue
Northumberland Street
Parkgate Avenue
Ravenscroft Avenue
Sandown Road
Shaws Bridge
Stranmillis Road*
Wandsworth Road
Westminster Avenue
(East)
Westminster Avenue
(North)
Westminster Avenue
(West)
Whitla Street
*previously owned by
Belfast City Council.
Ashdale Street
Bankmore Street
Charlotte Street
Corporation Square
Corporation Street
Cromac Street
Dunbar Street
Exchange Street
Frederick Street
Hope Street North
Kent Street
Little Donegall Street
Little Victoria Street
Marlborough Avenue
Smithfield Winetavern Street
Station Street
York Street
Opening times and parking tariffs vary. Go to www.belfastcity.gov.uk/parking for more information,
or see the on-site signage.
We’re committed to offering help, support and advice
to businesses. If your business has transferred to our
new council boundary, you can avail of:
Business development programmes
We run a number of programmes to support start-up and existing businesses.
www.belfastcity.gov.uk/businessprogrammes
Safety and environmental advice
We can help with risk assessments, fire safety, first aid and health and safety.
www.belfastcity.gov.uk/healthandsafety
Events and networking
Our Belfast Entrepreneurs Network
brings business people together through
networking events and practical workshops.
www.belfastcity.gov.uk/ben
High speed broadband grants
Paying parking fines
The enforcement of parking fines won’t change. On-the-ground enforcement will continue to be
provided by DRD’s contractor, NSL Services Group
(NSL), which employs traffic attendants to patrol car parks
and take action against vehicles that are parked illegally.
DRD will also process all penalty charge notices and deal
with all representations and appeals on our behalf.
If you have a query about parking charge notices
(parking tickets) call Transport NI’s parking enforcement
unit in Coleraine on 0845 300 0613.
You can contact us on 9027 0428 regarding queries
about parking tariffs or car park conditions.
Our Connection Vouchers Scheme offers
businesses, charities and social enterprises the opportunity to apply for a grant worth up to £3,000 to cover the cost of high-speed broadband installation.
www.belfastcity.gov.uk/connectionvouchers
We also provide a number of regulatory services for the
business community, including:
• food safety inspections;
• health and safety inspections;
• pollution prevention and control; and
• issuing licences and permits.
Full details of all of our business help, support and services
can be found at www.belfastcity.gov.uk/business
CityMatters
April - June 2015
13
Rates
Understanding
your rates
update
Our part of your rate bill is the
district rates. This is 45 per cent
of your overall bill and allows
us to provide our services. The
remaining 55 per cent is the
regional rate, which is set and
collected by central government.
With this being the first year of
the new council, we’re aware
that the impact of our zero per
cent district rates increase will be
different for everyone, depending
on whether you’re an existing or
transferring ratepayer.
District rate frozen for
third year in a row
We’re entering a unique time in the
city – 2015 to 2016 will involve great
change, expansion and opportunity.
And it’s also the first time in our 42
year history that we’ve agreed a zero
percent increase on the district rate for
the third year in a row!
The significance of this freeze is clear
when we look at it alongside the unique
changes that we face as a result of
local government reform, which have
come about during a time of funding
cuts from central government. As we
transform into the new Belfast City
Council, taking on additional powers
and serving a larger city area, our
commitment to continual investment,
service improvement and value for
money remains at the forefront of
everything we do.
The freeze has been achieved at the
same time as the continued delivery
of our Investment Programme for the
city. This means that we’ll support job
14
CityMatters
April - June 2015
creation and economic development,
while continuing to provide value for
money services - at no extra cost to you.
Another key component that has
allowed us to achieve this zero percent
increase is our ongoing efficiency
programme. In the past year, we’ve
made £2 million of efficiency savings,
bringing our total savings to £20 million
since 2006.
As we move into a new era for Belfast,
our commitment to our priorities
of investment, service improvement
and efficiency will not diminish. We’ll
continue to strive to better our record
in all of these areas in every part of our
new city.
On pages 16 and 17, we outline what
your rates actually pay for, how your bill is
calculated and how to get help with your
rates. Pages 18 to 25 give an overview
of what we’ve achieved so far and what
we’re doing next.
Existing Belfast City
Council domestic
ratepayers
The Northern Ireland Executive
has decided on a 1.4 per cent
increase in the regional rate.
This means that the overall
effect on these ratepayers will
be 0.78 per cent.
For domestic rate payers, this
means that the average weekly
increase will be:
• 9p per week, or £4.83 per year
for a terrace house;
• 14p per week, or £7.38 per
year for a three bedroom semi
detached house; and
• 32p per week, or £16.40
per year for a four bedroom
detached house.
Transferring ratepayers (domestic and non-domestic)
The Department for Finance and
Personnel (on behalf of the NI
Assembly) has put in place a four year
district rates convergence scheme
providing up to £30 million of support
to help domestic and non domestic
ratepayers throughout Northern
Ireland. It'll apply to anyone who
would be adversely affected by local
government reorganisation.
Broadly speaking, it's worked out on the
basis of the differences in rate levels that
have developed over the years between
the various councils.
The discount will be automatically
applied to the bill of anyone
moving to Belfast in April and will
appear as below:
The following levels of discount will be
applied over the four years:
Period
Year one
2015 to 2016
Year two
2016 to 2017 Year three
2017 to 2018
Year four 2018 to 2019
It's of particular interest to the 23,000
householders and businesses that
are transferring into the new Belfast
council area from Castlereagh, North
Down and Lisburn. The discount will
be automatically applied to rates bills
in order to avoid sudden increases, as
a result of the change in boundaries.
Discount on district
rate increase
80 per cent
discount 60 per cent
discount 40 per cent
discount 20 per cent
discount Domestic ratepayer example
Here’s an example for a home
valued at £115,000 (the average
value of a domestic property in
Belfast) transferring to Belfast in April
2015. The discount to the district
rate, based on 2014 to 2015 district
rates, would be applied as follows:
Transferring District rates
area
bill before
relief (£)
Lisburn
355.81
Castlereagh 355.81
North Down 355.81
District
rate
relief (£)
35.88
80.50
9.66
District
rate (£)
319.93
275.31
346.15
Regional
rate
(£)
464.79
464.79
464.79
Total rate bill
for 2015-2016 (£)
784.72
740.10
810.94
Total increase
from 2014-2015 (£)
19.42
31.49
16.43
Commercial ratepayer example
Here’s an example for non-domestic premises with a
£12,728 net annual value (NAV)
transferring to Belfast in April 2015. Service’s non-domestic revaluation
(see below for more information).
This example doesn’t include other
rates relief, which may apply to non-domestic properties and any
effect of the Land and Property
Transferring District rates
area
bill before
relief (£)
Lisburn
3,243.32
Castlereagh 3,243.32
District
rate
relief (£)
629.57
871.86
The discounted district rate, based
on 2014 to 2015 district rates,
would be applied as follows:
District
rate (£)
2,613.76
2,371.47
All non-domestic properties
Rates will also change for all non-domestic proper ties throughout
Nor thern Ireland. This is due to
Land and Proper ty Service’s rates
revaluation exercise, which has
reassessed the rateable value of all
non-domestic proper ties. This means
that some business rate bills will go
down, some will go up and many
could stay the same. The revaluation
is separate to our rates setting
process and more information is
available on the Reval website at
www.reval2015ni.gov.uk or by
contacting LPS on 0300 200 7801
Regional
rate (£)
Total rate
bill for 2015-2016 (£)
4,055.13 6,668.88
4,055.13 6,426.59
Total increase
from 20142015 (£)
77.05
124.46
You can find more information on
rates in Belfast at:
www.belfastcity.gov.uk/rates
www.nidirect.gov.uk
www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk
CityMatters
April - June 2015
15
What do my rates pay for?
Last year your rates helped us to meet and exceed many of our
targets and improve our services. Here are just a few examples.
Attracting over 250,000 visits
to Belfast Zoo, nearly 210,000
visitors to Belfast Castle and
Malone House, 389,000 people
to Belfast Waterfront and The
Ulster Hall, 600,000 visitors to
the award-winning St George's
Market and almost 64,000 visits to
the City Hall.
Signing up 2,650 patients to
the Healthwise (physical activity
referral scheme).
Providing leisure facilities for over 170,000 users and almost
7,200 members at our 10 leisure centres.
Achieving a total of 14 green flag
accreditations for our parks and
open spaces. These are located
within a 1km radius of almost 80
per cent of residents.
Entertaining over 230,000 people
at our parks and leisure events
and programmes.
Increasing the household recycling
rate to 42 per cent in 2014.
Supporting 104 sports clubs with
£163,000 Support for Sport funding.
Registering over 3,100 children on
our leisure centre holiday schemes
and 1,360 at community centre
play schemes.
Welcoming almost 544,000 visits
to our 22 community centres.
Supporting 155 coaches and
volunteers through our coach
education training programme.
Distributing £2.85 million of grant
aid to 553 local community groups.
Recycling more than 50,000
tonnes of waste.
16
CityMatters
April - June 2015
Attracting nearly 140,000 visitors
to our website every month.
Welcoming over 600,000 visits
to our four recycling centres
and two civic amenity sites.
Issuing over 3,193 Fixed Penalty
Notices for littering and dog
offences.
Organising 120 community
clean-ups.
Cleaning over 3,900 streets per
week (379,574km per year).
Emptying almost eight million
wheelie bins and carrying out
43,388 bulky waste collections.
Carrying out almost 19,000
inspections (including health
and safety, housing, food safety,
entertainment and smoke free).
Providing advice to over 2,400
consumers, resulting in over
£130,000 going back into the
consumer pocket.
Delivering 1,738 free home
safety checks.
Delivering community safety
services, such as on-street
alcohol enforcement and PCSP
led small grants.
Installation of 241 alleygates, and
the adoption of six alleygates
from the Department of Justice,
to reduce antisocial behaviour.
Dealing with 222 dangerous
buildings and improving the look
of over 50 dilapidated buildings.
Working with 55 groups to
provide activities for young
people at interface areas to
reduce conflict and tension.
Issuing 362 entertainment licences.
Awarding almost £400,000 in Good
Relations Grants to help communities
promote better relationships.
Supporting 3,412 companies
and entrepreneurs through our
business programmes.
Promoting and helping coordinate
the Belfast City Marathon and Half
Marathon which attracted around
88,000 people.
Organising 11 large scale events,
attracting around 241,000 people
and benefiting the local economy
by approximately £7.7 million.
Continuing to promote Belfast as
a tourist destination, consistently
attracting over 7 million visitors, with
around one in four overnight visitors
to NI choosing to stay here.
Investing £600,000 under our
Renewing the Routes Programme,
improving the appearance of 140
commercial units and enabling 23
environmental improvements and
heritage projects.
Developing schemes to help
residents deal with fuel poverty
such as our Be Warm scheme,
which has sold £1.3 million in oil
stamps since it launched in 2008.
Awarding £2.29 million through
122 grants to culture and arts
organisations.
Providing public toilets at 14 sites
across the city.
Securing £11,000 per year in
electricity savings for the lighting of
City Hall.
Responding to 3,021 night time
noise services requests
Rates
Where we get our money from
We get our money from these key areas:
Help with your rates
Land and Property Services (LPS) is responsible for sending
out your rate bill, collecting your payment, providing help with
paying your bill and pursuing court action for unpaid rates.
If you've difficulty paying your rates, contact LPS
immediately on 0300 200 7801. They'll review your
circumstances and may be able to discuss alternative
payment arrangements with you.
District Rate Subsidy
District rate
(from householders and businesses)
Fees and charges
(Money received for services like
waste disposal and building control)
Due to the creation of 11 new councils on 1 April 2015, a
District Rate Subsidy has been introduced for a four year
period for ratepayers most affected by significant rises in
their rates bill.
£143.12 m
You don’t have to apply for the District Rate Subsidy. If
you're eligible for the Rate Subsidy, the reduction will
automatically be applied to the increased amount of the
district rate and will be shown on page two of your rate
bill as a District Rate Subsidy, underneath the actual district
rate.The amount of District Rate Subsidy awarded will be
shown in the Exemptions/Reliefs/Allowances section.
£20.76 m
For more information on the District Rate Subsidy visit
www.nidirect.gov.uk/drc
example from Europe
Grants (For
£10.52 m
and central government)
Other
(For example rents
and licences)
Reliefs and allowances
£17.77 m
A range of other reliefs and allowances are available
for domestic ratepayers including:
• pensioners living alone,
• people with a disability,
• people on a low income, and
• people claiming Housing Benefit.
Total planned spend 2015 - 2016
£192.17 m
How your rate bill is made up
The district
rate currently
accounts for
45%
The regional
rate currently
accounts for
55%
The district rate
The district rate is set by your local
council. This is used for the council
services and facilities that we provide,
including those listed on page 16 in the
‘What do my rates pay for?’ section.
The regional rate
The regional rate is set by the
NI Executive. This is used to fund
public services delivered by the
NI Executive like education, health,
housing and roads.
How your rate bill is calculated
Domestic rates are calculated as follows:
*Rateable
capital value of
your property
x
(regional rate
+ district rate
=
rates
payable
*The rateable capital value is based on the assessment of
your property’s value on the open market on 1 January 2005.
For more information call 0300 200 7801 or go to
www.nidirect.gov.uk/rates
Early payment discount
If LPS receives one full payment by the discount date on
your bill, you may qualify for an early payment discount
of four per cent. Discount relates to domestic properties
only. Remember always allow five working days for any
payment to reach your rate account.
Spreading the cost
If you set up a direct debit, you can spread the cost of
your rate bill over 10 months.
Call 0300 200 7801, Text Relay 18001 0300 200 7801
or download a direct debit application form at www.nidirect.gov.uk/rates
Further information
For queries about your rate bill go to www.nidirect.gov.uk/rates or contact LPS:
Call the helpline: 0300 200 7801 (calls charged at
local rate).
In person: LPS Belfast
Customer Information Centre,
Lanyon Plaza, 7 Lanyon Place,
Townparks, Belfast, BT1 3LP.
For more information about district rates contact our
Financial Services Section on 9027 0300 or go to www.belfastcity.gov.uk/rates
CityMatters
April - June 2015
17
Investment
Programme
update
Proposed impression of Innovation
Centre at Forthriver Business Park.
Continuing to
invest in our...
city
people
communities
economy
future
As well as providing the essential
services paid for by your rates,
we’re leading the way in building a
better Belfast.
least £330 million on capital works
over the next eight years.
Among these are major
regeneration schemes with the
The Belfast Agenda (page 11) will explain potential to deliver jobs and other
more about how we’ll work with others opportunities. Examples include a
world class conference facility at
to do this, but our own Investment
Belfast Waterfront, an Innovation
Programme has already provided a
strong foundation for our enhanced role. Centre at Forthriver Business
Park and a new state-of-the-art
This ambitious programme – backed
leisure complex at Olympia (pages
by all political parties after the
20-22) - the first venue to be
economic downturn – has made a real transformed under exciting plans
difference to every corner of the city to modernise our leisure centres.
in the last three years. It also reflects
the priorities highlighted by you in our
latest residents' survey.
Over £120 million of projects are either
underway or completed. More are still
to come and, altogether, we'll spend at
18
CityMatters
April - June 2015
£393 million
Current value of our
Investment Programme
Almost £100 million has been
raised from other sources towards
projects – double our original target
of £50 million.
And we'll continue to ensure
our commitments reflect other
exciting developments planned for
Belfast, like the University of Ulster
expansion, a rapid transit system and
a new city centre transport hub.
We’ve more than trebled our targets
for delivering job opportunities,
and have supported people into
employment and training through
our capital projects and other
initiatives (page 23).
Over £330 million
What we’ll spend on
capital projects by 2023
Small and medium sized businesses
still make up most of our economy,
so we’ve increased our support to
help them grow.
And Belfast already punches
above its weight when it comes to
international events – hot on the (w)
heels of Giro d’Italia, the tall ships will
sail into town in July for four days of
maritime fun.
Our future plans will look closely
at what’s needed to build strong
communities, and how we can best
use our new community planning
powers to do this.
But much of our work is already
focused on improving quality of life,
creating shared space and helping
people feel safe and involved (page
25), so these priorities will still be at
the heart of everything we do.
Within our Investment Programme,
we also gave a commitment to keep
rates down and reduce our costs
by £20 million, without affecting
frontline services.
We’re proud to say we’ve met these
promises, so our investment is still
at no additional cost to you. And
we’ll continue to strike the balance
between providing good value for
money and working with others to
invest in our city.
A bigger council will bring new
challenges, but we're ready for the
next exciting chapter.
£20 million
Efficiency savings made
within the council since 2006
CityMatters
April - June 2015
19
Investment Programme update
Physical investment
New era for Belfast Waterfront
Belfast is set to be the next big thing in
conferences, thanks to a £29.5 million
investment in Belfast Waterfront.
We’re working closely with Tourism
NI to promote these bigger, better
facilities around the world. They’ve
provided £4 million towards the
extension, together with £14.5
million from the European Regional
Development Fund.
Interest in Northern Ireland’s only
purpose-built conference centre, which
opens in spring 2016, is already high,
with bookings worth almost £50 million
already secured.
This economic boost will focus on
our growing tourism and hospitality
sectors to create jobs, training
opportunities and other benefits.
During construction, we’ll also carry out
upgrade works to the existing Belfast
Waterfront building, which remains open
for entertainment and other events.
Call 9033 4400 for more information.
Innovation Centre at Forthriver
The European Regional Development
Fund and Invest Northern Ireland
have awarded us £6.15 million to build
an Innovation Centre on the former
Mackies site, off Springfield Road.
We'll provide the remaining finance to
turn part of this derelict site into a new
space for business start-ups specialising
in innovation. It will include:
•high quality workspace;
•strong telecoms infrastructure;
•meeting rooms; and
•shared areas for new and existing
firms to team up and develop their
cutting edge ideas.
Bike share scheme
Residents, students and
commuters are all getting on their
bikes – Belfast bikes, that is!
Belfast’s first bike share scheme is
up and running – page 4 explains
where to find the bikes and how to
use them safely.
This cheaper, greener way of
travelling will appeal to visitors
too, and provide a healthier, more
affordable way to explore all parts
of our city.
20
CityMatters
April - June 2015
European Union
European Regional
Development Fund
Investing in your future
This project is part-funded by the European
Regional Development Fund, under the European
Sustainable Competitiveness Programme for
Northern Ireland, and administered by Tourism NI.
Tourism NI is the trading name of the Northern
Ireland Tourist Board.
£120 million
Value of projects completed
or underway across Belfast
North Foreshore
Work starts this spring, with doors
opening in 2016. In time, the centre
will create jobs and be a catalyst for
developing the wider site.
Call 9027 0491 or visit www.belfastcity.gov.uk/innovation
for more information.
European Union
European Regional
Development Fund
Investing in your future
This project is part-funded by Invest Northern
Ireland and the European Regional Development
Fund, under the European Sustainable
Competitiveness Programme for Northern Ireland.
We look forward to seeing
more conference delegates
when the work at Belfast Waterfront
is complete. In our experience,
people who discover Belfast’s warm
welcome on a business trip often
return again for a longer
leisure visit.
Roger and Olive Nicholson,
owners of Ravenhill House
guest accommodation
We're also moving ahead with exciting
plans to turn part of the North
Foreshore into the Giant’s Park
Environmental Resource Park.
Our plan is to develop the infrastructure
needed to attract companies specialising
in sustainable development and
environmental technology.
This will allow us to market Belfast
as a leading destination for green
businesses and create opportunities
for young people in the renewable
and cleantech sectors.
Call 9032 0202 ext 3441 or go
to www.belfastcity.gov.uk/
northforeshore to find out more.
Belfast is really buzzing, with
great events, more tourists and
new developments, like the extension
of Belfast Waterfront.
This is good news for me, as I hope
to get a job in the hospitality and
tourism industry when
I graduate.
Ciara Mulvenna, Belfast
Metropolitan College student
Connswater Community
Greenway
A fresh look for leisure centres
Building work is well underway to
create the new Olympia Leisure
Centre at the National Football
Stadium at Windsor Park. And we’re
continuing to engage with local
stakeholders to develop the site
options for Andersonstown Leisure Centre.
The new Olympia Leisure Centre is
expected to open in 2016 with two
swimming pools, a luxury spa and
community space for a range of activities.
Visit the website to watch our virtual
flythrough of the new Olympia
facility and see how the wider
site will look including the new
boulevard, pitch and playspace.
We’re working with councillors
to agree the financial priorities
for phases two and three of the
Leisure Transformation Programme,
which will include developing
leisure facilities in areas that have
joined our new council boundary.
For more information go to
www.belfastcity.gov.uk/
transformingleisure
£105 million
What we’ll spend to
transform and modernise
our leisure centres
Girdwood Hub
Our leisure partner GLL will
operate the hub under the Better
brand, but we’ll still own the
building and work with others to
support other developments on
the wider site.
Listen to his music and discover the
greenway on an interactive walking trail
through Van’s east Belfast.
Copies are available from the Visit Belfast
Welcome Centre (8-10 Donegall Square
West) or download from
www.connswatergreenway.co.uk/trails
Call 0800 0838 160 for details of all
planned construction or go to www.connswatergreenway.co.uk for
the latest updates.
* This project has been developed by the East Belfast
Partnership and is being delivered with us. It is funded
by the Big Lottery Fund, the council, the Department
for Social Development and the Department of
Agriculture and Rural Development.
Local teams will soon enjoy
longer playing hours and
better changing facilities
with £15.1 million of
improvements to our pitches.
Go to www.belfastcity.gov.uk/
girdwood for the latest updates.
We are looking forward to
the Girdwood Hub becoming
a peace and reconciliation centre
for our communities, and bringing
opportunities for new employment.
Once open, it will be amazing to
see everyone working together to
use and eventually manage
the Hub.
Manus Maguire, Cliftonville
Community Regeneration Forum,
and Janice Beggs, Lower Oldpark
Community Association
This project is funded by the European
Union’s PEACE III Programme, managed
by the Special EU Programmes Body.
It’s home to the Hollow – made famous in
Van Morrison’s Brown Eyed Girl.
Sports pitches
Leisure, educational and
community facilities will come
together under one roof this
summer, when the Girdwood
Hub in north Belfast opens its doors.
Community input has been
central to the hub, which will
include Belfast Met classes and
dedicated shared space for young
people - a first for this area.
Work begins at Elmgrove this spring –
the latest site to be improved through
this massive £40 million regeneration.*
Page 31 has more about
this work, due to be completed by mid
2016. It follows upgrades already made
to our existing facilities at Hammer
Complex, Marrowbone Millennium Park
and Suffolk Playing Fields.
Games areas and playgrounds
Look out for refurbished games areas
at Dr Pitt Memorial Park, Springhill
Park, Canmore Street, Stewart Street
and North Queen Street - perfect for
a kickabout or other casual sports.
We're also continuing to progress plans
for a number of new spaces.
And many of our playgrounds are
getting a makeover too – go to page 31
to read more.
CityMatters
April - June 2015
21
Almost £100 million
Digital
Belfast
Over 100 of our visitor attractions
and community buildings now offer
free Wi-Fi.
Switch onto BelfastWiFi at our leisure
centres, sports pavilions, community
centres or main public venues, like City Hall and St George’s Market.
The next step will be free wireless
access in outdoor areas across the city
centre. This means installing more data
cells to offer faster connections at key
Local Investment Fund
Over 60 smaller projects have
benefited from our £5 million pledge
to support community improvement
schemes.They include:
•training, sports and tourism facilities;
•new outdoor spaces; and
•essential repairs to community
buildings.
We’ve developed strong relationships
with communities through these
projects, and councillors are now
looking at how to build upon this type
of partnership working in the future.
Go to www.belfastcity.gov.uk/
investment to read about
projects in your area.
Thanks to the Local
Investment Fund and the
help of local politicians, Sarsfield’s
GAC is able to turn a dark derelict
space into a fun, bright new
development for club members
and the whole community
to enjoy.*
* For more information, email
[email protected]
Déaglán Coleman,
Secretary of Sarsfield’s
GAC Development
Committee
Funding levered in from
others to deliver capital
projects
zones and locations - great news for
citizens, visitors and businesses!
Other schemes underway include:
This work is part of a £16.7 million
investment in our digital infrastructure
and will be completed by mid 2016.
It's supported by us, together with
the Department for Culture, Media
and Sport.
improvements to drainage
and access at Drumglass Park;
Go to www.belfastcity.gov.uk/
belfastwifi to find your nearest
BelfastWiFi venue.
finishing touches to develop
Half Moon Lake as an
educational space;
Investment in new areas
Councillors are also looking at what’s
needed in new parts of Belfast.
Work planned so far includes:
•new playgrounds at Brooke,
Mount Eagles, Poleglass and
Areema Drive, and an upgrade to
Roddens Crescent;
• refurbishment of Twinbrook
Wildlife Park;
•repairs to Lisburn Bridges; and
•the development of Sally Gardens
sports zone.
Look out for updates in future
editions of City Matters.
Tropical Ravine
The restoration
of the Tropical
Ravine in Botanic
Gardens will offer
something new for
visitors to enjoy.
Work begins this
summer and the
unique plant species will be back
on display, together with some
exciting new features, by late 2016.
Go to page 28 to find out how
to share your memories of the
Tropical Ravine.
extra burial space at
Roselawn Cemetery;
preparations for new boxingthemed public art; and
ongoing maintenance,
including buildings which
have moved from Lisburn
and Castlereagh.
And we’ve already worked
with others to create and
develop many other facilities.
These include:
new Visit Belfast Welcome
Centre;
Adventurers’ Learning
Centre at Belfast Zoo;
redevelopment of Mary Peters
Athletics Track;
mountain bike trails at
Barnett Demesne; and
refurbishment of Dunville
and Woodvale Parks.
Go to www.belfastcity.gov.uk/investment
for details of all projects completed and
underway so far.
CityMatters
April - June 2015
22
Investment Programme update
Jobs
Help to Achieve
We've helped over 800 young people aged 16 - 25 into
further education, training or employment through our
Achieve Bursary Fund.
Training and employment
We’ve provided over 700 job opportunities since 2012
– more than trebling our original target of 200.
This includes permanent and temporary roles,
apprenticeships, paid internships and ring-fenced jobs for
the long term unemployed.
Many more have taken their first or next step on the
careers ladder with us, with 672 work placements for
students, graduates and those with a disability.
712 job opportunities
delivered within the council
This included 140 students from Belfast Met, taking
courses in IT, multimedia, renewable energies, tourism
and other key growth areas for our economy.
Another 663 young people received help with fees,
childcare costs and other potential barriers, through the
Prince’s Trust Development Awards, with 97 per cent of
them moving onto further work or study as a result.
Go to www.belfastcity.gov.uk/achieve to read how
Achieve has helped young people throughout Belfast.
9,400 construction jobs
created during the Investment
Programme*
Skills to succeed
Community benefits
We also work closely with employability partners
to enable people to develop the skills needed for employment.
The major projects we've planned for, or are already
underway, in Belfast will create 9,400 construction jobs.*
5,220 participants have gained valuable skills through
Learn to Earn and other targeted schemes, with over
670 finding work as a result.
An employability and skills strategy is now being
developed for the city. It will look at how major
employers, including us, can work with the community
and voluntary sectors to help as many people as
possible into the labour market.
And all our physical contracts are now screened to
see if they could include additional opportunities, like
apprenticeships, training, environmental benefits or setting
aside a facility for community use.
Social clauses have already been used at Girdwood Hub and
Connswater Community Greenway, and our website will be
updated with future opportunities as they become available.
* Based on figures supplied by the Construction Employers' Federation (over
the lifetime of the Investment Programme)
The HARTE programme offered
training in a range of hospitality
and customer service skills, not available
through other schemes. I gained seven
new qualifications and got a new job as a
waitress immediately
afterwards.
I’m studying for a Foundation Degree in
Sustainable Construction and my work
placement as an assistant site engineer has
given me a real feel for the engineering and
managerial side of this industry
– I’m loving every
minute of it.
Caroline Cushenan, former
Hospitality and Retail Training for
Employment (HARTE) participant
John Joe McCann, work placement
student at Girdwood Hub
23
CityMatters
April - June 2015
Economy
Backing
businesses
Continued growth of small and medium sized firms is vital
to our economic success. They’re essential to our own
work too – 83p of every £1 we pay out is spent or re-spent within Belfast.
We offer lots of free events and programmes for
businesses and entrepreneurs. These cover everything from
networking and marketing to helping companies bid for
contracts – page 12 has more on how we can help your
business get ahead.
83p of every £1 we pay out is spent
or re-spent within our economy
Broadband boost
Over 500 small and medium enterprises are making the
most of faster broadband, through our Super Connected
Belfast Voucher Scheme and Business Growth Initiative.
They've received up to £3,000 towards the costs of high-speed access, as well as the chance to enjoy free one-to-one mentoring and specialist masterclasses on making the most of their super fast connection.
The voucher scheme, part funded by the Department for
Culture, Media and Sport and us, is open to local businesses
and social enterprises.
On a world stage
Almost 9.5 million people visit Belfast each year.
We want to increase this further by marketing our
city internationally through more major events, trade
missions and tourism and cultural initiatives.
Many of our capital projects could bring in new
investors too, transforming Northern Ireland into a
leading destination for business tourism, sustainable
technologies and other new sectors.
So we’ll continue to work with others to develop
our economic infrastructure and promote Belfast as
a great place to live, work, visit and invest.
Supplier opportunities
Investment in our infrastructure is also creating new
business for those in the wider supply chain.
We’ve already held information sessions to highlight
opportunities arising from Belfast Waterfront, Olympia
Leisure Centre and other major schemes.
Get details of events by signing up to our Belfast
Business Information Newsletter - email your
name, business name, address and postcode to
[email protected] or call 9027 0229.
Over £1 million provided to upgrade
businesses to faster broadband
Call 0800 587 695 or visit www.belfastcity.gov.uk/
connectionvouchers for more information.
The Super Connected Cities Business Growth
Initiative is part-funded by Invest Northern Ireland
and the European Regional Development Fund,
under the European Sustainable Competitiveness
Programme for Northern Ireland.
European Union
European Regional
Development Fund
Investing in your future
The benefits of upgrading our
broadband connection have been
tremendous. All our data is now in the cloud,
and sharing it with our team in Scotland is
much faster as a result.
Connor Aston, Managing Director,
NotBoxes NI Ltd and Belfast
Connection Voucher Scheme recipient
24
CityMatters
April - June 2015
Meet the Buyer’ events give suppliers
like us the chance to engage directly
with major contractors. We now have a
growing sub-contractor relationship with a
major construction firm, which is helping to
grow our business.
Alan Stringer, Head of Group Technical
Development, Precision Group, and subcontractor for Windsor Park and Olympia
Leisure Centre projects
People
Get active,
get involved
Belfast has high levels of health inequality,
segregation and poverty, and we're
continuing to find new ways to address
these issues.
Free outdoor gyms are an affordable way
to get fit, or grow your own at our 13
community gardens and six allotments.
We also support healthier lifestyles with
try-it events, coaching schemes and other
activities, together with our leisure partner
GLL, under the Better brand.
Safer streets
Our latest residents' survey highlights
the need to improve safety and
reduce antisocial behaviour.
We’re tackling this, with another 241
alleygates now in place across the
city. So far, these gates have secured
over 9,500 properties and helped cut
crime, and fear of crime.
They’ve had a positive impact on the
environment too, by discouraging fly-tipping, dog fouling and littering.
Call 9027 0428 for more information.
Over £10 million
of projects to build
a peaceful and
inclusive city
It’s hard to explain
what it’s like to be here
at night, knowing no-one is
outside at the back. For us
older people, peace of mind
is everything and our new
alleygates have helped
to achieve that.
Resident, Windsor area
Later this year, we’ll apply for monies from
the EU’s PEACE IV Programme to continue
promoting positive relations between
communities, especially young people.
Addressing
local issues
Our new powers, including
community planning, will help us
work with local communities and
partners to deal with local issues
and target services where they’re
needed most.
We’re already working in the Lower
Falls and Divis areas of west Belfast
and the Diamond area of east Belfast.
And we're taking a communityled approach to tackle issues like
unemployment and antisocial
behaviour. Feedback from residents
shows this is making a difference.
£5 million to community
regeneration schemes
through our Local
Investment Fund
New look for
main roads
Castlereagh and Lisburn Roads are
getting a makeover through our
Renewing the Routes scheme.
We’ve teamed up with business
owners, community groups
and other agencies to improve
the appearance of commercial
properties and green spaces along
these busy routes. Next up will be
York and Shankill Roads, where
work will start this summer.
Over £75 million has been
invested since 2004 in this scheme,
revitalizing almost 800 shop units
and delivering 135 arts, heritage and
environmental projects.
Help and advice
Free, confidential advice on benefits,
housing, debt and other issues is now
available from over 20 centres.
We give £860,000 towards this
provision, and also fund the Belfast
Citywide Tribunal Service. It provides
help if you want to appeal Social
Security Agency decisions on benefits.
Call 9032 0202 (extension 3592), or
visit www.belfastcity.gov.uk/advice
to find your nearest advice provider.
I’m so pleased with
the friendly help and
knowledgeable representation
from my local advice provider,
Ballysillan Community Forum,
and the tribunal service. I
could never have made a
successful appeal
by myself.
Trevor Spring, Belfast
Citywide Tribunal Service user
CityMatters
April - June 2015
25
Celebrated citizen
Brian Irvine –
Belfast’s first ever
Music Laureate
Belfast born composer, Brian Irvine,
is NI’s music man of the moment and
the city’s first ever Music Laureate.
Brian’s artistic career spans decades
and has resulted in collaborations,
commissions, prizes and a portfolio
that most composers could only dream
of. And his influences range from punk
to classical, and even skateboarding.
“I’ll be the first to admit I’ve an almost
obsessive love of music creation! So my
work includes operas, orchestral works,
installations, film, theatre and dance
scores, as well as ensemble, solo and
chamber works.”
Brian's signature style is hard to
define, but the energy and quality of
his collaborative work means that his
music is in demand in concert halls and
theatres internationally.
His awards include the British
Composers Award for Opera, the
MCPS Joyce Dixey Composition
Prize, the BBC Radio 3 Jazz Award
and the 2011 Allianz Arts Award
for ‘Best use of music in the
community’ to name but a few!
John McIlduff. In fact, Dumbworld’s
short animated film opera, Peter Lilly
and the Nose, won the 2015 Audience
Favourite Award at the Capital Irish
Film Festival in Washington, USA!
"We exist in a world of sound - we
use sound to communicate every
day of our lives so making music
is not something we opt into, it’s
something we can’t opt out of.
So whether you’re a professional
musician, amateur, office worker,
young or old - getting involved in
making music and sound is simply
something that can change you
and make you feel very alive."
His most ambitious commission to
date, ‘NEST’, involved over 3,000
people in the largest ever public
art performance in NI in the lead
up to the London 2012 Olympics.
One of his current collaborations,
‘Bluebottle’ will be performed at
the Ulster Hall on 15 April.
Brian explains, “Bluebottle tells a
beautiful tale of a young girl and
the chaos she creates as she tries
to get her father singing again.
We’ve teamed up with the Ulster
Orchestra, a live animator and 400
singing school children from all
over Northern Ireland, so I think
it’s going to be pretty special!”
He’s also working on ‘No Comply’
- a music performance project
bringing together young Belfast
based musicians and singers from
various musical backgrounds to
form one unique “orchestra” who
will work with skateboarders and
BMXers from T13, Titanic Quarter
to create a unique performance.
Brian and his 12 piece band have
toured throughout the USA,
Russia and Europe, appearing at
some of the world’s leading music
festivals and venues.
Brian’s work with Red Note
Ensemble composer Jennifer
Walshe ‘13 Vices’ is also on tour in
the UK and Ireland this April.
He’s been fortunate enough to
have worked with a wide range of
artists including the late, great poet
Seamus Heaney, UK pianist Joanna
MacGregor and Belfast’s own David
Holmes. Brian also works with his
‘Dumbworld’ Co Artistic Director, the
award winning film maker and director
For more information on No
Comply, 13 Vices and Brian's
other projects go to www.brianirvine.co.uk or www.dumbworld.co.uk
Programme of musical
events 2015
Pick up a copy from your local park, tourist
information centre, community or leisure centre.
www.belfastcity.gov.uk/parks
26
7148 Music
in the park CM strip.indd 1
CityMatters
April - June 2015
26/02/2015 15:51
Competition
Snap up a
share of
£1,000
Cameras aren’t just for
taking ‘selfies’. Why not
take a snap of one of our
beautiful parks and have the
chance of winning a share of
£1,000?
Our annual competition
is judged by professional
photographers and
challenges people of all ages
to capture their favourite
views of our parks.
as part of local government
reform, including Jubilee Park
and Tullycarnet Park.
Prizes will also be awarded
for best photos submitted
by under 16 year olds.
The closing date for
entries is Friday 15 May at
4pm. So it’s time to zoom
around our parks and get
snapping!
This year, we’ve introduced
three new categories:
-active parks,
-park landscapes, and
-art in the park.
The award-winning photos
will be displayed at our
Rose Week event at Sir
Thomas and Lady Dixon
Park in July.
And, we’ll also be welcoming
entries from parks that are
joining our council boundary
The £1,000 prize money is
sponsored by John McQuillan
(Contracts) Ltd.
For more information call 9091 8768 or go to www.belfastcity.gov.uk/parkphotocompetition
7144 CM 1/4 pg bridal giftwrapped (o).indd 1
Win £200 of
Lidl vouchers!
The Tall Ships Races will be here from 2 to 5 July
welcomed by the Lidl Belfast Titanic Maritime
Festival. As proud host sponsor of Belfast’s biggest
event, Lidl Northern Ireland is giving away a £200
voucher to one lucky City Matters reader!
With an array of top quality products across 38 stores in
Northern Ireland, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes
to spending this prize!
Lidl is truly on board for this year’s tall ship adventure.
The fun-loving company is sending eight employees on
the voyage from Belfast to Ålesund and promoting its
partnership with this exciting event at every opportunity!
To win this £200 Lidl shopping voucher, simply answer the
following question:
Q. How many Lidl employees are going on the
first voyage of The Tall Ships Races 2015?
(A)
Four (B) Six
(C) Eight
Name Address
Tel
Terms and conditions
Only one entry per household. No Belfast City Council or Lidl
employees may enter and you must live within the Belfast City Council
electoral area. Enter by Friday 12 June 2015. Full terms and conditions
available on request. Return to freepost address overleaf.
Belfast City Council complies with the Data Protection Act 1998.The
personal information you provide on the entry form will only be used to
respond to you about this competition.
CityMatters
April - June 2015
13/02/2015 14:55
27
Feedback
Your views
We hope you've enjoyed reading City Matters and
welcome your comments.
Please spare a minute or two to let us know what
you thought about this issue:
Please tell us what type of stories and features you
would like to see in future issues of City Matters:
A tropical
memory
the bustling, lively streets with
Work on the Tropical Ravine
people selling vibrant flowers.
will begin this summer with
a £3.8 million investment to
recreate its Victorian splendour. “We made our way to Botanic
Gardens and as soon as my
mother opened the doors
We’re encouraging you to
of the ravine, I felt a rush of
share your nostalgic feelings
heat come over me and the
of memories from when you
overpowering tropical smell
visited the Tropical Ravine.
in the air.The ravine was a
Botanic Gardens Park
paradise of tropical plants; the
Manager, Alex McNeill, shares giant leaves swept my head as I
his first memory as a child in
walked past and I felt like I was
the gardens, “I remember as
in the Amazon rainforest! After
a six year old, coming up to
our visit, my mother bought
Belfast on the bus with my
me a postcard to send to my
sister and my mother. We
grandmother so I could tell her
arrived in the city centre to
all about our trip.”
Share your memories of the ravine on our website
www.belfastcity.gov.uk/TropicalRavine
Births, deaths and marriages
Essential maintenance is taking place to the registration
system across Northern Ireland on Wednesday 1 to Friday
3 April.This will cause severe disruptions to the registration
service at the City Hall.We apologise for any inconvenience
this may cause and want to highlight the following
information to improve our service during this time:
Births
We’re closed on Easter Monday and
Tuesday and we’ll be unable to register
any births until week commencing 13 April. Remember you have 42 days to register the birth.
Deaths
Thank you for taking the time to tell us what you
think. Now return this slip to:
Freepost
RTHB-SJTZ-TZUJ
Belfast City Council
BT1 5GS
(no stamp required)
Or email your comments to
[email protected]
Belfast City Council complies with the Data Protection Act 1998.
The personal information you provide on this feedback form
will only be used to respond to you about these comments.
28
CityMatters
April - June 2015
From 1 to 3 April, we’ll only register deaths
for those who have booked a cremation
or burial during this time. We’ll be closed
on Easter Monday and reopen on Easter
Tuesday, from 9.30am to 12 noon, for the
registration of deaths only.
Marriages and Civil Partnerships
Recent changes in legislation mean that you
must give a minimum of 28 days' notice to
get married or register a civil partnership. If you’re having a religious marriage, we’ll be able to issue your schedule.
For more information or advice on births, deaths, marriages
or civil partnerships, please call 90270 455 or 9027 0274.
Festival round-up
Belfast Photo Festival
Explore and enjoy film, sculpture,
painting and performance at this
year’s festival with some of the
world’s leading photographic artists.
Festival of Fools
Belfast Film
Festival
Take a seat between 16 and 25 April
at an eclectic line-up of the best
in new, short and classic cinema,
including cinematic collaborations,
special events and amazing site-specific screenings!
For more information go to
www.belfastphotofestival.com
For more information go to
www.belfastfilmfestival.org
Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival
One of the city’s most vibrant festivals
returns from 30 April to 10 May with
a sparkling line-up of music, comedy,
literature, theatre, film and visual arts.
Call the Visit Belfast Welcome
Centre on 9024 6609 or go to
www.cqaf.com
The early spring bank holiday
weekend will see 120 free
performances throughout Cathedral
Quarter showcasing the best of
street theatre, circus and comedy
from around the world. Celebrating
Belfast Community Circus School’s
30th birthday, there’ll be aerial
acrobatics, slapstick clowning and an
alien spaceship as part of this annual
feast of funny.
Spring into
Easter
Belfast City Ha
ll
Go to www.foolsfestival.com
Saturd
ay
4
April - 7
A
Tuesd
ay
pril
Belfast
Book Festival
Come see an array
of talented authors and musicians
including Polly Toynbee, David Walker,
Brian Patten, Garth Knox and Thomas
Hitzlsperger covering themes including
history, Irish fiction, sport, politics,
sci-fi and children’s authors - there’s
something for everyone to enjoy!
Call the Crescent Arts Centre on
9024 2338 or go to www.belfastbookfestival.com
Saturday
1
3
June
12 noon-5pm ea
ch day
Admission free
Cracking good Ea
ster Bank Holiday
weekend family fu
n at City Hall.
Explore the new
season and East
er
traditions throug
h arts, crafts,
storytelling, work
shops and more!
7149-City Matters Events Half Page (o).indd 1
27/02/2015
CityMatters
April - June 2015
29
09:56
Belfast Zoo
Belfast’s new arrival is ‘bright-eyed and bushy-tailed’!
Belfast Zoo welcomed a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed arrival
when a crowned sifaka was born to
mother, Linoa and father, Tilavo.
For the first few weeks after birth,
crowned sifaka babies hold onto their
mother’s stomach. So keepers haven’t
been able to determine the gender or
the name of the infant yet.
Zoo curator, Julie Mansell, is delighted with
the newest arrival, “Crowned sifakas are
a species of lemur, found on the island
of Madagascar. Madagascar is the fourth
largest island in the world and is home
to more than 250,000 species, 70 per cent
of which are found nowhere else in the
world. But Madagascar has one of the
most threatened ecosystems on the
planet. More than 80 per cent of its
forests have disappeared since the 1950s,
leaving sifakas and other irreplaceable
species in danger of extinction.”
Julie continued, “It’s crucial that
zoos, like ours, play an active role in
protecting this remarkable species.
We’re home to one of only two
breeding pairs in Europe. In 2008, we
were the first zoo in the British Isles
to breed crowned sifaka. This success
has continued ever since and the
birth of our latest arrival is a massive
cause for celebration!”
You can support the care of Belfast Zoo’s
crowned sifaka group by taking part in
the animal adoption scheme. For more
information go to www.belfastzoo.co.uk,
email [email protected] or call
9077 6277 extension 229.
Annual Zoo photographic
memberships and cash prizes
competition Family
are among the awards for winners
It’s the 32nd year of our annual
photographic competition and
we’re challenging budding and
amateur photographers to take
a picture of our animals during a
visit to the zoo.
This year’s competition will launch on
Monday 13 April and is open to all
zoo visitors and photography clubs.
For more information, go to
www.belfastzoo.co.uk/photocomp
There are six categories:
•Best photo taken by a club
photographer.
•Best photo taken by a zoo visitor.
•Best black and white photo.
•Best funny caption.
•Best photo taken by an under 16.
•Best historical photo.
Overall winner of the
photographic competition 2014crowned lemur by Frances Price
For more information about Belfast Zoo call 9077 6277, go to www.belfastzoo.co.uk
facebook.com/belfastzoo
twitter.com/belfastzoo
30
CityMatters
April - June 2015
Pixie the
chimpanzee’s
birthday
Bring your little monkeys to Belfast
Zoo on Saturday 11 April and help
us celebrate Pixie the chimpanzee’s
second birthday.
There’ll be fun for all the family with
special feeding times, keeper talks and
watch as Pixie and her family open
their birthday treats!
Adventurers' learning centre now open!
For more information go to
www.belfastzoo.co.uk
Half time for our pitches
It’s play
time!
Have some family fun
over the Easter holidays
at one of our six newly
refurbished playgrounds.
We’ve invested £700k to
transform the play facilities
as part of our Investment
Programme.
The playgrounds can be
enjoyed by children of all
abilities and now have:
•exciting new play
equipment,
•colourful safety surfacing,
•new paths,
•landscaped areas,
•seating; and
•boundary fencing.
The refurbished playgrounds
can be found at:
•Cherryvale Playing Fields
(Ravenhill Road),
•Falls Park (Fall Road),
•Carnamore (Suffolk),
•Stewart Street (The Markets),
•Lemberg Street (Donegall
Road), and
•Queen Mary’s Gardens
(Waterworks Park) - to be
completed by the end of
April 2015.
For a full list of all our playgrounds and their locations
go to www.belfastcity.gov.uk/playgrounds
We’re almost half way through
our £15.1 million pitches
investment project. Work is
now underway at the locations
below, which we expect to
complete this summer.
Cliftonville Playing Fields
New changing pavilion and
3G artificial Gaelic turf pitch.
Woodlands Playing Fields
New changing pavilion and
3G artificial turf pitch.
Waterworks Park and
Dixon Playing Fields
New changing pavilions.
We're also planning
improvements for:
Musgrave Park
Victoria Park
Ormeau Park
Ballysillan Park
Falls Park*
Cherryvale
Playing Fields*
*subject to planning
permission.
For more information go to www.belfastcity.gov.uk/pitches
www.belfastcity.gov.uk/£80fine
CityMatters
April - June 2015
31
Green
Doing a spring
Recycling
clean? Try our
reuse containers performance
to date
If you’re planning a spring clean,
you can donate any unwanted
goods to charity by using the reuse
containers at our recycling centres.
Donated items are collected by East
Belfast Mission (EBM), who accept a
wide range of items including:
Furniture
Bicycles
(in any
condition)
Household items
(such as mirrors,
pictures and
glassware)
Children’s items
(including toys,
prams and cots)
The charity mends damaged
furniture and repairs bicycles at their
workshop, helping create jobs and
provide training for the unemployed.
Any profits from the sale of the
donated items is used to support
other work carried out by EBM,
who provide help and support
to some of the most vulnerable
members of society.
If you're unsure about what can
and cannot be accepted, just
ask a member of staff at the
recycling centre or call us on
0800 032 8100.
32
CityMatters
April - June 2015
Our recycling rate for
2014 was 42 per cent, the
best ever for the city! We
want to increase that again
this year and hit around 45
per cent to keep well on
track for meeting the EU
target of recycling half of
our waste by 2020.
You helped us achieve
this target by using your
recycling bins and boxes
regularly. We appreciate
your efforts, which have lead to this
success, and look forward to seeing
further improvements in the future.
For information on what can be
recycled call 0800 032 8100, email
[email protected]
or go to www.belfastcity.gov.uk/bins
Free recycling education
Do you live in any of the areas
joining Belfast City Council in April?
Our Recycling Education Team will be
promoting recycling services to our
new households and want to speak to
as many adult community groups as
possible. The team can deliver FREE
talks, workshops, informal chats and
information stands on recycling.
Around 75 per cent of our waste
could be recycled using the bins and
boxes currently available.
If you’re interested in booking a
free visit, please get in touch by
calling 0800 032 8100 or email
[email protected]
Which wheeled bins
go out together?
If you have wheeled recycling
bins, remember that your general
waste bin and compost bin should
be presented together on the
same day every fortnight.Your
recycling bin should be put out on
its own the following week.
If you’re joining us
from Lisburn or
Castlereagh, this is
different to your
current schedule.
All food waste, garden waste, shredded
paper and takeaway pizza boxes can
be recycled in your compost bin.
You can order free additional compost
and recycling bins by emailing [email protected]
calling 0800 032 8100, or online at www.belfastcity.gov.uk/bins
We can arrange an assisted lift if you're
physically unable to put your bins
out. For information on arranging an
assisted lift, call 9027 0230.
Your recycling bin should be used for:
paper
cardboard
food and
drink cans
cartons
For example
Tetrapak®
plastic
bottles
aluminium
foil
Green
More recycling
means more jobs
Did you know that recycling helps to
support hundreds of local jobs? Here
are examples of how your recycling
efforts are making an impact.
Bryson Recycling
We send the materials from our
recycling bins and boxes to Bryson
Recycling in Mallusk to sort and
process. The company employs
around 200 people and, as a social
enterprise, any profit they make is
used to support the charitable
work carried out by their parent
organisation, Bryson Charitable Group.
Natural World Products (NWP)
Our compostable waste is taken to
NWP, another local company, who
convert our food and garden waste
into high quality compost. They
employ around 80 people across
their sites in Northern Ireland.
In a recent report by Friends of the
Earth, over 50,000 new recycling jobs
would be created across the UK and
Ireland if we recycled more.
So, by recycling as much as you can at
home and using our recycling centres,
you’re supporting the local economy,
while protecting the environment.
For more information go to www.belfastcity.gov.uk/recycling
7152 Recycle City Matters 1/2pg ad(o).indd 1
23/02/2015
CityMatters
April - June 2015
33
13:31
Lifelong learning
The Belfast Strategic
Partnership (BSP) recently
launched its new strategy,
‘Belfast a Learning City’,
setting out a vision of how
lifelong learning can be used
to create a fairer and more
equal city.
The BSP want more
organisations to join them
in helping address the
learning needs of residents
There are already lots of
different ways to learn in Belfast and deliver better results
including traditional education, through a targeted, focused
and joint approach.
outreach programmes and
Good clean fun!
Local children taking part in a community clean-up in
the Divis area of west Belfast. If you’d like to organise
a community clean-up in your neighbourhood, please
contact cleansing on 90270 230 and we can help with
collections and provide you with clean up kits.
Or fa
For more information on ‘Belfast a Learning City’ and the
work of the Lifelong Learning Thematic Group in BSP, call
Dolores Atkinson in the Belfast Health Development Unit
on 9050 2073, email [email protected] or go to
www.makinglifebettertogether.com
an
DRUG
DEALERS
DON’T
CARE…
DO YOU?
www.belfastcity.gov.uk/dogfouling
34
CityMatters
April - June 2015
even just learning skills from
a friend. But these learning
methods are unknown to
many people who could be
benefitting from them.
EVERY DAY DRUGS TEAR
FAMILIES APART…
Make a stand and help keep drugs
off our streets. Call Crimestoppers
anonymously now.
0800 555 111
Consumer advice
Your Consumer Advice
Centre is on the move!
Budgeting
basics
For many people, our wallets are just
returning to normal after Christmas.
So now’s the time to start budgeting so
that you can save for the year ahead.
Budgeting is an effective tool for
managing money and is an excellent
habit to develop!
The Consumer Advice Centre has
been helping consumers and traders in
Belfast for over 30 years.
After eight years of service from our
offices at14 Wellington Place, we’re now
moving to the ground floor of the Cecil
Ward Building, 4 - 10 Linenhall Street.
Our specialist advisors will continue
to provide free, face-to-face, expert
and independent consumer advice to
anyone who shops or trades in Belfast.
top
tip
Our opening hours will operate as
normal (see below).
Please contact us before visiting the
centre, as opening hours may change
during the move.
You can continue to contact the
Consumer Advice Centre on our
telephone advice line 9032 8260
or email your query to [email protected]
Consumer advice top tip when
buying travel insurance:
If you live in Northern Ireland and are flying abroad
from an airport in the Republic of Ireland, check
your travel insurance policy provides cover for
flight delays and cancellations. Some policies only
cover flights that depart from a UK airport. If in
doubt, contact your insurance company directly.
Need help with a consumer problem?
If you have a consumer problem
and would like some specialist
advice, visit the Consumer Advice
Centre at Cecil Ward Building,
4-10 Linenhall Street, Belfast.
You can pick up information on
consumer issues from our offices
or go online to www.belfastcity.gov.uk/
consumeradvice
Opening times:
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday Thursday
Friday
9.30am - 4.30pm
9.30am - 4.30pm
9.30am - 2.00pm
9.30am - 4.30pm
9.30am - 4.15pm
We're closed at weekends.
You can also call 9032 8260
or email your query to
[email protected]
Go to www.belfastcity.gov.uk/consumeradvice for more answers to
consumer problems.
Once you start to budget and keep
track of your money, you’ll reap the
rewards immediately. It'll help you to:
•have more control of your money;
•be aware of what’s going on with
your finances;
•organise your spending better;
•save for expected and unexpected
costs;
•spot the warning signs of potential problems; and
•save money and generate more money!
For free and impartial advice
on money matters, contact the
organisations below:
Support Care Advice (SCA)
197 Falls Road
9032 9085
East Belfast Independent Advice
Centre (EBIAC)
55 Templemore Avenue
9073 5690
You can also download a free
budget planning tool from www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk
CityMatters
April - June 2015
35
Seniors’ section
Get help with your taxes
‘Tax Help for Older People’
provides free, professional help
for anyone approaching 60
or older, receiving an annual
income of less than £20,000.
The service is provided by Tax
Volunteers; a charity offering
caring and friendly advice, which is
jargon-free and individual to each
person’s needs.
You can contact Tax Volunteers
by calling 0845 601 3321 (local
rate) or 0130 848 8066 between
9am and 5pm every weekday, or
by emailing [email protected].
For tax queries that cannot be
resolved by phone,Tax Help will
arrange a face-to-face meeting
or home visit with one of its
volunteer advisers who work
across Northern Ireland.
For further details check out
the Tax Help website www.taxvol.org.uk
36
CityMatters
April - June 2015
Celebrate Silver
Surfers’ Day
If you’re over 60 and
interested in learning more
about the internet, why not
celebrate Silver Surfers’ Day
with us on Thursday 23 April?
along your own device and
we’ll show you how to make
the most of it.You’ll receive a
free goody bag and tea and
coffee will be provided.
As part of Spring Online
Week (20-26 April), we’re
providing free training sessions
at our community centres
where you’ll get the chance to
learn about:
•setting up an email account,
•video calling,
•online banking,
•online shopping, and
•accessing online services.
This event is supported by
the Department of Finance
and Personnel, Go On NI,
Libraries NI and Business in
the Community.
Many of our community
centres now have free Wi-Fi
with access to computers, iPads
and laptops. Or you can bring
To book your Silver Surfers’
one hour slot call into your
local community centre IT Hub,
contact Roisin McKenna on 9027 0644 or email [email protected]
For more information visit
www.belfastcity.gov.uk/
superconnectedcommunities
Getting out
and about
As you get older, getting out
and about can be difficult.
It’s important to keep active
for your general health and
wellbeing.
Before you head out, make sure
you always:
•wear several layers, as this is
warmer than wearing one
thick layer;
•wear boots or shoes with a
thick sole and grip;
•drink plenty of fluids; and
•keep an eye on the weather
forecast.
Getting out improves
your mood and keeps
you active.
For more information on keeping active,
contact the Age-friendly
team on 9050 2073.
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
Be prepared in
spring event
Over the next few months, we’ll be
hosting our Age-friendly Belfast Be Prepared events for older people.
Every year, 500,000 older
people in the UK experience
abuse.We believe it’s our
responsibility to treat older
people as valued members of
the community and make sure
they live safely and with dignity.
Elder Abuse Awareness Day will
take place on Monday 15 June,
with communities across the
world coming together to raise
awareness of this issue.
For more information on Elder
Abuse Day keep an eye on
www.belfastcity.gov.uk/seniors
To learn more about elder
abuse and what you can do to
help stop it, please go to www.elderabuse.org.uk
Or, if you’ve any concerns or
would like to talk to someone,
call the AgeNI advice line on
0808 808 7575.
Falls Prevention
Programme
The Falls Prevention
Programme is delivered by
Active Belfast, in partnership
with the Public Health Agency,
Belfast Health and Social Care
Trust and The Heart Project,
to help older people improve
coordination, plus improved
their strength and balance
physical and mental wellbeing.
after they’ve had a fall.
The 12 week physical activity
programme helps reduce
the risk of another fall and
participants have showed
improved strength, balance and
If you’d like to get involved
contact Sean McQuade in the
Active Belfast Team on 9050 2073 or email [email protected]
Our first Be Prepared in spring event will
be held on Thursday 23 April in Shankill
Leisure Centre, followed by another on
Tuesday 5 May in Botanic Gardens. Both
events will start at 10.30am until 2pm.
You’ll get advice and information from a
range of organisations to help improve
your daily living.You can also take part
in a variety of small workshops to help
you prepare for spring.
To find out more, contact Anne Ross
on 9050 2073 or email [email protected]
next
Look out for dates and venues of our
of
ion
edit
t
nex
the
in
Be Prepared events
.
City Matters
Age-friendly
Belfast charter
We launched the Age-friendly Belfast
charter at our recent Age-friendly
Belfast convention.
Organisations can now sign up to
principles and standards to support
older people to reach their full
potential and also some simple actions
to improve the age-friendliness of their
premises or services.
For more information on this event
or if you'd like a copy of our Age-friendly Belfast update please
call on 9050 2073.
Be warm
Save Be Warm oil stamps now to help you spread
the cost of heating your home.
Available at our leisure centres and The Cecil Ward
Building, Linenhall Street as well as many local credit
unions and convenience shops.
For a full list of participating retailers and fuel providers
go to www.belfastcity.gov.uk/bewarm
CityMatters
April - June 2015
37
What’s on
www.belfastcity.gov.uk/events
Your essential guide to Belfast events
April
Belfast Youth in the Arts Grease
Spring Fair
Sat 18 – Sun 19 April
Wed 1 - Sat 4 April: 7.30pm
Malone House, Barnett Demesne
Belfast Waterfront
A fun day out with flowers, animals, plant
and craft stalls and children’s entertainment.
The latest production from
Belfast Youth in the Arts, in
arrangement with Theatrical
Rights Worldwide.
Call 9027 0467 or go to www.belfastcity.gov.uk/parkevents
William Caulfield
Me, Myself and I
Sat 18 April: 8pm
The Ulster Hall
Tickets are £16.
Call 9088 6277 or go to www.ulsterhall.co.uk
Fiery Origins of Cave Hill
Call 9088 6277 or go to www.waterfront.co.uk
Shhh!
Sat 4 April
Belfast Circus School
Barren Carrousel present their new show
featuring acrobatics, juggling
and aerial wonders.
Sat 18 April: 10am – 1pm
Belfast Castle
Call 9023 6007 or go to www.belfastcircus.org
The Big Chris Barber Band
Verdi: La Traviata
Tues 14 April: 7.30pm
Call 9029 1357 or go to www.cavehillconservation.org
An outstanding
interpretation of
one of the most
popular love stories
of the 19th century.
Man in the Moon
Belfast Waterfront
Out of Site: Miguel Martin
Fri 10 April – Sat 9 May
Call 9033 4455 or go to www.waterfront.co.uk
An exhibition of drawings
recording the interiors of the
Orpheus building by artist
Miguel Martin.
Folktown Market
University of Ulster, Belfast
Tue 7 April: 8pm
Belfast Waterfront
The BIG Chris Barber Band are
considered to be one of the
finest traditional jazz bands in
the world.
Call 9088 6277 or go to www.waterfront.co.uk
13 Vices
Volume Control
and Set The Stage
present...
Live music with local bands
catering for young people.
Call 9031 0845 or go to www.ohyeahbelfast.com
The Dock Market
A production by Jennifer
Walshe and Belfast’s Music
Laureate, Brian Irvine.
Call 9024 8818 or go to www.movingonmusic.com
38
CityMatters
April - June 2015
Lyric Theatre
Hilarious
rollercoaster story
with a dark twist of
one man’s resolve
to overcome everything that
life has to throw at him.
Dawn Chorus
Sat 25 April: 5am – 7:30am
Oh Yeah Music Centre
The MAC
Mon 20 – Fri 24 April
Call 9038 1081 or go to www.lyrictheatre.co.uk
Call 9536 7511 or go to www.universityartgallery.org
Fri 10 April: 7pm
Wed 8 April: 8pm
Join geologist, Kirstin Lemon,
on an exploration of the fiery
origins of Cave Hill.
Selected Saturdays: 11am (11, 18, 25
April, 9 and 23 May, 13, 20, 27 June)
The Dock Market, Titanic Quarter
Arts, crafts, photography,
jewellery and food stalls with
live music and kids’ activities.
Go to www.the-dock.org
Belfast Castle
Thurs 16 April: 11am – 8pm
Bank Square
The first independent weekly
market in Belfast city centre.
Call 07795115132 or go to www.folktownbelfast.com
MACBETH
Thurs 16 - Fri 17 April: 7.30pm
Rainbow Factory Studio Theatre
In partnership with Royal
Shakespeare Company Open
Stages, MACBETH will leave
audiences spellbound.
Call 9024 0551 or go to www.youthaction.org
Meet at the castle gates at the
top of Innisfayle Park to hear
the Dawn Chorus with bird
expert Larry Toal.
Call 9029 1357 or go to www.cavehillconservation.org
BBC Radio Ulster School
Choir of the Year in
association with the Ulster
Youth Choir
Sun 26 April: 7.30pm (Re-scheduled
from 31 March)
The Ulster Hall
To apply for free tickets go to www.bbc.co.uk/tickets. Minimum
age limit of 12 years. Under 16’s must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Get the latest Belfast Waterfront and
Ulster Hall entertainment guide.
Call the box office on 9033 4455 or
visit www.waterfront.co.uk or www.ulsterhall.co.uk
Visit Belfast is your official guide to what’s
on and everything happening in Belfast.
Pick up your free copy from the Visit Belfast
Welcome Centre opposite City Hall, 9 Donegall Square North, call 9024 6609
or go to www.visit-belfast.com
May
Hot Chocolate
Sat 2 May: 8pm
Music in the Parks
Belfast Waterfront
With special guests, The Three
Degrees.
Call 9088 6277 or go to www.waterfront.co.uk
Shadow of a Gunman
The Continental
Spring Market
Sun 3 May - Sat 6 June
Lyric Theatre
When stories become
gruesome reality, surely
it can only be the author
who's to blame?
Call 9038 1081 or go to www.lyrictheatre.co.uk
Harland and Wolff reunion
event
Fri 22 May – Mon 25 May
Grounds of City Hall
Offering the very best in
continental food, crafts
and gifts daily from 10am
(1pm on Sunday 24 May).
Sun 10 May – Sun 20 Sep
Various parks
This free summer programme
features a range of music.
www.marketplaceeurope.co.uk
Call 9091 8768 or go to www.belfastcity.go.uk/parkevents
Mon 4 May: 1pm
Titanic Drawing Offices
Former workers of Harland and Wolff
are invited to come along with their
families and share their stories.
Frank Pig Says Hello
Little Sure Shot
Tues 5 – Sun 10 May
Meet Annie
Oakley, the Little
Sure Shot of the Wild West.
Breabach Concert
Wed 20 May
Sat 30 May: 8pm
Clarinettist, Michael Collins,
performs with Belfast-born
pianist, Michael McHale.
A concert with one of Scotland’s
leading and most exciting
traditional music groups.
Call 9066 3849 or go to www.belfastmusicsociety.org
Call 9096 4180 or go to www.culturlann.ie
Belfast Harbour Office
Call 9073 0490 or contact [email protected]
The MAC
Summer Celebrity Recital
Tues 12 – Thurs 14 May
Lyric Theatre
Call 9023 5053 or go to www.themaclive.com
Stage adaption of the novel,
The Butcher Boy, where over
30 characters are played by
two versatile actors.
You won’t get me...
Call 9038 1081 or go to www.lyrictheatre.co.uk
Art Exhibition and Sale
Thurs 21 to Sat 23 May
Golden Thread Gallery
Writers on Writers Festival
Exhibition in partnership with the
Belfast Trades Union Council.
Wed 13 - Sat 16 May
Call 07708 198118
Call 9033 0920 or go to www.goldenthreadgallery.co.uk
Features a host of free events,
workshops, exhibitions, talks,
discussions and more.
Festival of Champions
Linen Hall Library
Call 9032 1707 or go to www.linenhall.com
Flowers and Plants of
Cave Hill
Sat 16 May: 10am – 1pm
Belfast Castle
Belfast One World Run
Newtownbreda Presbyterian Church
The church’s fifth art exhibition
and sale takes place in St John’s
Hall 10am-9pm Thurs and Fri and
10am-5pm on Sat. Special preview
night on Wed 20 May opened by
artist and teacher Bill Gatt.
Thurs 7 – Thurs 28 May
Cultúrlann
Experiments in Air
Sun 31 May: 3pm
Ozone Complex
Sun 24 May
All proceeds to Christian Aid,
Concern Worldwide, Oxfam
and Trocaire.
An evening exploring the aerial
form and theatre defying gravity.
Call 9082 7016 or visit www.belfastoneworldrun.co.uk
Belfast Circus School
Call 9023 6007 or go to www.belfastcircus.org
Suzi Quatro
An Evening
with David
Sedaris
Fri 29 May: 8pm
Sun 31 May: 8pm
Belfast Waterfront
The launch event for this year’s
Music in the Parks.
Let Karl Hamilton guide you in
the identification of the many
spring flowers and plants on
Cave Hill.
The first female bass
player to become a
major rock star.
America’s bestselling literary
funnyman.
Call 9091 8768 or go to www.belfastcity.go.uk/parkevents
Call 9029 1357 or go to www.cavehillconservation.org
Call 9088 6277 or go to www.waterfront.co.uk
Call 9033 4455 or go to www.waterfront.co.uk
Sun 10 May: 2pm – 5pm
Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park
Belfast Waterfront
CityMatters
April - June 2015
39
What’s on
www.belfastcity.gov.uk/events
Your essential guide to Belfast events
June
Belfast Photo Festival
River Farset Picnic
Thurs 4 – Tues 30 June
Throughout city centre
This year’s festival will explore
experimentations with some
world-leading photographic
artists.
Call 9024 6609 or go to www.belfastphotofestival.com
Belfast City Blues Festival
Sun 7 June: 1pm
Fri 26 – Sun 28 June
‘Blues on the Boat Cruises’
are back in association with
The Lagan Boat Company.
Ballysillan Park
Bring along a picnic, get your face
painted and meet characters from
Belfast’s industrial heyday.
Go to www.belfastcityblues.com
Call 9096 4180 or go to www.facebook.com/farsetproject
Native and visiting summer
birds
End of Year Show
Sat 13 June: 10am – 1pm
Fri 5 June - Sat 13 June
Bird expert, Aidan Crean, will
ring and record both native and
visiting summer birds.
University of Ulster Belfast
Displaying work from
undergraduate and
postgraduate students.
Call 9536 7511 or got to www.belfastschoolofart.com
Titanic Taster Heritage
Drawing Trail
Belfast Castle
Call 9029 1357 or go to www.cavehillconservation.org
My Fair Ladies
Mon 15 – Sat 20 June
Lyric Theatre
Draw your way around our
maritime heritage.
Entertaining play
about the many
ladies in the
extraordinary life
of George Bernard Shaw.
Call 9073 0490 or contact [email protected]
Call 9038 1081 or go to www.lyrictheatre.co.uk
Sat 6 June: 10am
Titanic Quarter
Organic Lunches
Big Birthday Bash
Sat 20 - Sun 21 June
The MAC
The Queen B of comedy, Luisa
Omielan, is back following her
sold out debut stand-up show.
Call 9023 5053 or go to www.themaclive.com
Native
plants and
their uses
Sat 20 June:
10am – 1pm
Belfast Castle
Ulster Hall: 1pm
Phillip Elliott, Organist
Poetry Picnic - Lunch
with Bowie
Fri 1 May:1pm
Call 9088 6277 or go to
www.ulsterhall.co.uk
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
at the Ulster Hall: The
1925 visit
Marking the 90th
anniversary of Conan
Doyle’s historic Ulster Hall
lectures on spiritualism.
CityMatters
April - June 2015
Call 9023 6007 or go to www.belfastcircus.org
Open Space
Sun 21 June: 7pm
Rainbow Factory Studio Theatre
Call 9029 1357 or go to www.cavehillconservation.org
Call 9024 0551 or go to www.youthaction.org
Breakfast
Club Movies
Ulster Hall Group Space
Breakfast from 10am,
movie from 10.30am.
An unmissable hour of
music, prose and poetry
inspired by David Bowie.
Wed 13 May: 1pm
40
See the streets of Cathedral
Quarter come alive with
street theatre showcasing the
incredible talents from the
Belfast Circus School over the
past 30 years.
Providing opportunities for local
young actors, musicians, comedians
and performance artists.
Wed 22 April:1pm
Colm Carey, Belfast City
Organist
Gordon Street, Cathedral Quarter
Forager Phil Simpson will show
us the many uses that our
native plants can serve.
Literary Lunchtimes
Ulster Hall
Fri 27 March:1pm
Am I Right Ladies?!
Thurs 18 – Sat 20 June
Introduction to Memoir
Wed 20 May: 1pm
Featuring Patricia Craig, Tony
MacAulay and Tara West.
High Society
Call 9088 6277 or go to www.ulsterhall.co.uk
Call 9088 6277 or go to www.ulsterhall.co.uk
Sun 26 April
Members' directory
Members of Belfast City Council
Balmoral
(Belvoir, Finaghy, Malone, Musgrave and Upper Malone)
Councillor Paula Bradshaw
ALL
Councillor Jeffrey Dudgeon
UUP
Councillor Claire Hanna
SDLP
Councillor Geraldine McAteer SF
Councillor Christopher Stalford DUP
07825 684499
07921 251874
07729 208258
9032 0202
07791 317310
Black Mountain
Court
(Ballygomartin, Clonard, Falls, Forth River, Shankill and Woodvale)
Councillor Jolene Bunting
Councillor Billy Hutchinson
Councillor Brian Kingston
Councillor Mary McConville
Councillor Frank McCoubrey
Councillor Jim McVeigh
(Andersonstown, Ballymurphy, Beechmount, Colin Glen,
Falls Park, Shaw’s Road and Turf Lodge)
Lisnasharragh
Councillor Tim Attwood
Councillor Janice Austin
Councillor Ciarán Beattie
Councillor Gerry Carroll
Councillor Arder Carson
Councillor Steven Corr
Councillor Emma Groves
Councillor Aileen Graham
Councillor Carole Howard
Councillor Michael Long
Councillor Chris McGimpsey
Councillor Kate Mullan
Councillor Tommy Sandford
SDLP
SF
SF
PBPA
SF
SF
SF
07802 279939
9062 6670
9050 8989
07596 114612
9080 8404
9062 6670
9080 8404
(Blackstaff, Central, Ormeau, Stranmillis and Windsor)
SDLP
UUP
SF
07769 298311
9032 0202
9024 3194
ALL
DUP
07833 220447
07788 371323
(Cregagh, Hillfoot, Merok, Orangefield, Ravenhill and Rosetta)
DUP
ALL
ALL UUP
SDLP
DUP
07876 033389
07876 800913
07876 395436
9045 6593
07852 150167
07867 420201
(Ardoyne, Ballysillan, Cliftonville, Legoniel, New Lodge, and
Water Works)
Councillor Mary Clarke
Councillor Julie-Anne Corr
Councillor JJ Magee
Councillor Nichola Mallon
Councillor Gerry McCabe
Councillor Gareth McKee
SF
PUP
SF
SDLP
SF
DUP
9074 0817
07934 819824
9074 0817
9032 0202
9074 0817
07917 353474
Ormiston
Castle
(Bellevue, Cavehill, Chichester Park, Duncairn, Fortwilliam
and Innisfayle)
Councillor David Browne
UUP
Councillor Mary Ellen CampbellSF
Councillor Patrick Convery
SDLP
Councillor Nuala McAllister
ALL
Councillor Lydia Patterson
DUP
Councillor Guy Spence
DUP
07774 424140
9074 0817
07884 367987
07791 251441
9071 7072
07824 859297
Colin*
(Dunmurry, Ladybrook, Lagmore, Poleglass, Stewartstown
and Twinbrook)
Councillor David Bell
Councillor Matt Garrett
Councillor Bill Groves
Councillor Brian Heading
Councillor Stephen Magennis
Councillor Charlene O’Hara
07876 743222
07515 715563
07795 233313
9050 8989
9032 0202
9050 8989
Oldpark
Botanic
Councillor Declan Boyle
Councillor Graham Craig
Councillor Deirdre Hargey
Councillor Emmet
McDonough-Brown
Councillor Ruth Patterson
TUV
PUP
DUP
SF
DUP
SF
SF
SF
SF
SDLP
SF
SF
9061 1176
9080 8404
07792 852363
07854 365833
07989 530062
9061 1176
(Belmont, Garnerville, Gilnahirk, Knock, Sandown, Shandon
and Stormont)
Councillor Ross Brown
Councillor Tom Haire
Councillor John Hussey
Councillor Peter Johnston
Councillor Mervyn Jones
Councillor Laura McNamee
Councillor Jim Rodgers
GP
DUP
DUP
UUP
ALL
ALL
UUP
07930 366842
07796 453691
9047 3111
07827 909660
9047 3420
9032 0202
07801 882478
Titanic
(Ballymacarrett, Beersbridge, Bloomfield, Connswater,
Sydenham and Woodstock)
Councillor David Armitage
Councillor Sonia Copeland
Councillor John Kyle
Councillor Adam Newton
Councillor Niall Ó Donnghaile
Councillor Gavin Robinson
ALL
UUP
PUP
DUP
SF
DUP
07881 363939
07833 223215
07515 409757
028 9045 9500
9024 3194
9032 0202
*Please note that the District Electoral Areas (NI) Order
2014 named this ward as Collin.
Party abbreviations
ALLAlliance
DUP Democratic Unionist Party
GP Green Party
PBPA People Before Profit Alliance
PUP Progressive Unionist Party
SDLP Social, Democratic and Labour Party
SF Sinn Féin
TUV Traditional Unionist Voice
UUP Ulster Unionist Party
CityMatters
April - June 2015
41