West Belfast Sinn Féin Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

DSD's own survey finds community concern over barracks site

Published: 11 March, 2009

Sinn Féin has called on DSD Minister Margaret Ritchie to heed local community needs and demands and designate the Andersonstown Barracks site for a social, public or community use.

MLA Paul Maskey was speaking after it emerged that a survey carried out for DSD last year confirmed that the overwhelming majority of local residents are against a commercial development on the former

The survey was presented to the DSD Minister six months ago within a report prepared by consultants Deloitte Touche. It formed part of a study commissioned by SDLP Minister within a section of west Belfast arbitrarily labelled the 'Andersonstown Gateway'.

At the end of last year, in response to questions from Sinn Féin MLA Paul Maskey in the Assembly about her mishandling of the barracks site, Margaret Ritchie said that she was aware of the survey :

"Possibly one of the most interesting and best proposals to emerge…was for a community police station to be based on the site." (AQO 1042/09)

Mr Maskey said:

"Sinn Féin led the campaign to have the Andersonstown RUC barracks removed. We have consistently demanded that the heritage and history of this site demands special recognition. Sinn Féin wants to see it put to a social, public or community use and believe that there are many good ideas within the local community. The Minister's suggestion that one of her favourite ideas is for another police station is laughable. That doesn't reflect local opinion."

"Sinn Féin also made that clear to the DSD's consultants. We have encouraged local residents to make their voice heard in any survey or opinion poll about the barracks site. The Deloitte Touche survey makes clear that their "door-to-door engagement exercise was communication and not consultation". The greatest number of comments from members of the public recorded by the consultants were about the barracks site and how it should be used. 159 individual responses (in the door-to-door and internet survey) were made. These overwhelmingly reflect community criticism of DSD's mishandling of the barracks site and opposition to any commercial development of the site.

"More than half-a million pounds has been spent by DSD in connection with the barrack site so far. The DSD Minister has known for the last six months that her own consultants found widespread concern about her Department's mishandling of the barracks site. The time has come for Margaret Ritchie to give up her quest to commercially develop the barracks site, against local wishes, and give over the land for a social, public or community use which reflects and respects local opinion."