Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Enforcement concern over Holylands fines
MLA anger at student street drinking
GREEN Party MLA Claire Bailey has blasted authorities for turning a blind eye to anti-social behaviour during Freshers 2017.
She accused Belfast City Council of a “lack of enforcement” over on-street drinking and littering in the Holylands area – where many students live.
Ms Bailey submitted a freedom of information request which showed not a single fine was issued for drinking in the area last month.
In addition, a mere seven littering charges had been handed out since January.
The council claimed students in the South Belfast area had been “generally compliant with advice and followed directions given to them”.
But Ms Bailey insisted the response was nowhere near good enough.
She said: “The serious on-street drinking and littering that blights the Holylands would not be tolerated in any other area of Belfast.
“There is a lack of enforcement and no regeneration plan. Yet the council continue to approve Homes in Multiple Occupancy in the area – which piles more people into an already overpopulated space.
“We need to think of the Holylands residents living in horrible conditions. “The place is coming down with rubbish – anti-social behaviour is making their lives a misery.” A spokesperson for the council said it is “not in a position to fully resolve the wide-ranging concerns in this area”. He added: “We work closely with the PSNI and the university authorities throughout the year in trying to minimise the impact of negative behaviours. “We adopt a graduated approach, advising students of the law in relation to anti-social behaviour and of the consequences.
“Generally, during Freshers 2017 the students were compliant with advice, and followed directions given to them by Council officers.” But Ms Bailey said not enough was being done. She added: “A graduated response does not cut it – we need to see by-laws enforced by the council immediately.”