Residents vulnerable after tree cull

On Monday morning Housing Executive workers began the process of cutting back trees and foliage at the interface with Bishop Street to an approximate height of three feet.

But, residents of the area have claimed that the removal of 'additional proection' provided by the greenery has left them 'wide open' to further attacks and will allow further and easier identification of residents by attackers.

Fountain man William Jackson told the Sentinel that the decision to cut down the trees comes at a "bad time" as the 12th July approaches.

He also claimed the move is designed to catch any attacks coming out of the estate on the surrounding CCTV cameras.

"The trees and bushes did provide protection and their removal will allow nationalists to stand up on the walls now and see right in to the estate, identifying houses and individual people," said Mr Jackson.

The Fountain/Bishop Street interface has been beleagured in recent months with, at times, almost nightly skirmishes involving young children as well as adults. Brick, bottles, petrol and paint bombs have been hurled regularly.

William Jackson also said that a perspex screen at the interface was attacked in the early hours of last Sunday morning. And, a police spokeswoman confirmed that incident saying: "Police were made aware around 1.45am on Sunday of two holes in fencing at the Fountain. Enquiries are ongoing. "

The Fountain resident also said that a crowd appeared on the Walls in the early hours of Monday morning and began 'cat calling' the names of individuals within the estate.

Whilst the police did not make any comment on the suggestion made by Fountain residents that the greenery was culled back to provide a clearer view for CCTV cameras, a spokeswoman for the Housing Executive told the Sentinel: "

The Housing Executive was asked to trim back trees as they were obscuring the view from CCTV cameras. A meeting was arranged with officials from the Housing Executive, the PSNI and the City Centre Initiative to discuss the issue. The Housing Executive agreed to trim back the trees with a view to improving security for all residents in the area."