For the record.

The B.R.C has been made aware that ‘Beechmount Sinn Fein’ on Friday (17th of may), their facebook page posted a story and picture from our page regarding the gates that have been forcefully pulled from the wall at the bottom of Beechmount street.

The Beechmount Residents Collective would like to make clear that this issue was highlighted on Thursday (16th of May) by our members (Not a political party) who also reported the damaged gates to the city council our members were on the scene (Wednesday 15th of May) the night the vandalism took place, a resident of the area reported the damage to a member of the Beechmount Residents Collective.

This is not the first time Beechmount Sinn fein have taken a story from our page, The beechmount Residents Collective (B.R.C) has no links to Sinn fein, we are a independent group highlighting issues within our community.


Here is a the facebook link to the story 'Damaged gates':
https://www.facebook.com/BeechmountResidentsCollective/posts/31202694892912
5

Update on the derelict houses in Beechmount Street:

Today (Thursday the 16th of May) the Belfast City council: Health & Environment service department where out at the derelict houses at the bottom of Beechmount Street to deliver a notice to the private landlords, the notice gives the landlords NINE DAYS to get the properties in better condition than what they are currently in or the council will take action.

The Beechmount Residents Collective today tried to contact one of the landlords but as of yet there has been no answer, Also we would like to stress that we want families housed in the future and would prefer if these houses were returned to social housing.

Damaged Alley Gates

Last night (Wednesday 15th of May) a Member of the Beechmount Residents collective was made aware of ally gates that were forcefully pulled from the wall at the bottom of Beechmount Street, next to derelict houses creating more of an eye sore for this already run down street.

The Beechmount residents Collective contacted the Belfast city council regarding the damage to these gates and should be out soon to investigate and secure the gates, we have asked for them to be immediately repaired, these gates are very heavy and we would fear that a child could be seriously injured if climbing on them.

Slum Landlords out!, Social housing now!... Poster:

Derelict properties become an Eye sore

Pair of derelict properties in the Beechmount area have become an eyesore for local residents the properties have been attracting vandals that have broke windows, graffiti sprayed over them and walls damaged at front & back of the houses.

The Beechmount residents collective has been speaking to a number of residents who have stressed their concern about the houses that are making beechmount street look like a ‘ghetto’ and are worried about who the houses will be rented to in the future.

Both properties at the bottom of Beechmount street are now boarded up, one boarded up for over a year and the other in the past had countless tenants over the years, and in recent times there was a problem tenant disturbing the wider community with weekend party’s, street fights and drugs.

Beechmount has become an area affected by the new buy-to-let boom, private landlords buying up houses that were once social housing and not caring about the wider community or the tenants they rent their houses too.

The Beechmount Residents collective contacted the Belfast city council regarding these properties.


A possible solution

if the landlord’s, house/houses have been lying empty and in disarray for a long period of time or unwilling to put the funds into restoring the house a possible solution would be for the City Council, working with housing associations, to buy vacant properties and take them back into social ownership.

Member of the Beechmount Residents Collective talks on the above issue to the             Andersonstown News (Thursday 25 of April 2013)...

Stolen bike returned to rightful owner

The Beechmount Residents Collective would like to thank the Beechmount Community who helped us find the rightful owner of the bike which was stolen last night (5th of April 2013) the bike was padlocked outside a local Chinese take-away when the thieves decided to cut the padlock and make of. 

Thanks to the vigilance of a local resident who challenged them and made us aware the bike is back in the owners possession.

Reclaim our responsibility, Rebuild our community!

The Beechmount Residents Collective supports the concept of ‘Reclaim our responsibility, Rebuild our community’ and encourages local Residents to get active with in the Beechmount area in issues that affect the future of our Community.

If you are from the Greater Beechmount area, join B.R.C today! You can either choose to be a ‘silent’ member or actively participate in a range of activities managed by the B.R.C.

Contact us on:

Facebook - Beechmount Residents Collective

Email - beechmountcommunity@gmail.com