Editorial

Peace wall is not welcome

PLANS by the Fold housing association to include an extension to the peace wall in a new Springfield Road housing development are ill-advised and should be reconsidered.

Local people and their political representatives have made their opposition to the proposal known and it would be folly indeed for Fold to forge ahead with the plan in the face of almost universal local disapproval.

There are a number of side issues which worry residents and politicians – including site access

One priest’s passion

We learn this week that Fr Aidan Troy is to take his leave of the area to begin a new life at a parish in France. The Wicklow-born priest received a baptism of fire on his arrival in North Belfast seven years ago, walking into the onslaught of the Holy Cross blocade.

Through the vicious sectarian protests against innocent schoolgirls and when tensions were at their highest, Fr Troy provided steady words and a calming influence, his quiet determination

Barnes-storming Paddy let down by the BBC – as were the public

ONE of the first initiatives taken by Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond was to appoint a Broadcasting Commission to look at the performance of the BBC.

While broadcasting powers have not been devolved from London to Edinburgh — nor to the North of Ireland, an indicator of just how important the control of the state broadcaster is to Britain — First Minister Salmond resolved to have Scotland’s views on its broadcasting needs heard.

Evidence given to the independent Commission

Sammy plays a stormer

WHILE many questions remain to be answered about the flooding of the new £120m Broadway underpass at the weekend, the response of the Ministers in the powersharing Executive has given some solace to homeowners caught up in the unseasonal deluge.

Special praise must go to Environment Minister Sammy Wilson who convened an emergency meeting of the relevant agencies and departments at Stormont – on the Sabbath – and confirmed funds would be made available to aid householders affected by