Calls for interface closure

The council, working in conjunction with sustainable transport charity Sustrans, has spent hundreds of thousands of pounds on the Glen Park to Monkstown section of the Newtownabbey Way, but some political and community representatives now want to see it fenced off on a temporary basis in order to keep crowds of warring youths apart.

Over the past couple of months, sectarian trouble has flared in the Abbeyglen area on an almost nightly basis. And in one shocking incident last week a female police officer was injured when she was struck on the head with a brick as she dealt with an incident in Glenabbey Drive.

A new multi-agency campaign has been initiated calling on parents in the area to play their part in stopping young people from getting involved in the trouble, but some local representatives believe a physical barrier is needed to halt the violence so that cross-community dialogue can take place.

In a joint statement issued this week, the South and East Antrim Community Federation (SEACF) and the East Antrim Progressive Unionist Party have called for the interface to be temporarily closed off before someone is seriously injured or killed.

Phil Hamilton of the PUP and SEACF spokesman, alderman Tommy Kirkham, praised the efforts of voluntary community representatives in Monkstown for “working tirelessly to keep a lid on the problem”, but they have called on representatives in the Glenville area to come forward and get involved in dialogue as a means of reducing tensions in the area.

“Residents have approached both groups due to their ongoing transformation process to attempt to get some form of short-term solution until meaningful dialogue can take place to resolve the problem once and for all. Serious concerns have been voiced about the recent sectarian violence and the large numbers of young people participating in the trouble,” the statement read.

“We want an urgent meeting with the District Policing Partnership represented, the Community Safety Partnership, the PSNI, SEACF, the PUP, our MP, our MLAs, local councillors and local community representatives - this would be the first step to making progress,” it concluded.

While the council has already been involved in talks with the PSNI, statutory organisations and community representatives about tackling the ongoing anti-social behaviour, it is extremely unlikely that a fence will be erected to block off the walking and cycling path.

Majella McAllister, the council’s Director of Development Services commented: “This section of the Newtownabbey Way was opened earlier this year with local residents in Monkstown, Glenville and Whiteabbey and nearby schools coming together to embrace the project. It is the borough’s newest park, a wonderful asset providing the opportunity for local people to enjoy the benefits of open space and a natural environment in their own back yard.

“We will continue to work to ensure that this path, in the heart of the community, can be enjoyed by all the community and that those who are intent upon causing trouble are deterred from their actions.”