Last October the Northern Ireland Housing Executive was told
it would have £133 million to spend in North Belfast
over the next seven years in order to upgrade housing and
cut the waiting lists.
While there are more Roman Catholics on the housing waiting
lists in North Belfast, the standard of housing in nationalist
areas is infinitely better than that in Protestant districts.
It is accepted that one-third of Protestants live in houses
rated unfit for occupation. A large proportion of that £133
million has been earmarked by the Government to upgrade housing
in the semi-derelict Protestant districts, and thus redress
the unfair balance which currently exists.
Can it be mere coincidence that since the announcement greated
with delight in Protestant and Unionist circles - there has
been a sustained and orchestrated attack on Protestant areas
along the many peacelines in North Belfast?
There is a real feeling in Protestant areas that this is
the latest and most sustained bid by republicans to ethnically
cleanse even more areas of North Belfast and 'green' this
strategic part of the city to an even greater extent.
Militant republicanism has been in the ascendancy this summer
in North Belfast and the increased aggression was witnessed
in the ferocious attacks on the police on July 12 in Ardoyne
and the attempt to prevent Orange lodges from walking along
this part of the Crumlin Road.
It is true that some loyalists have been foolish enough -
and wrong - to indulge in sectarian attacks at interfaces,
but all the evidence points to the fact that it is republicans
who have been responsible for most of the violence.
The violence switches from one interface to another - one
night it is Glenbryn - Ardoyne, the next it is Whitewell -
Serpentine Road, and another night it is Halliday's Road -
Newington.
It is important that this nefarious plan to take over North
Belfast is recognised by the authorities, and by the liberals
and well-meaning 'moderates' who can speak from the safety
of tree-lined suburbs in the east and south of the city, or
in North Down.
This is a Protestant community struggling for its very existence
and it is important that this is recognised. This is not a
mindless affair without purpose. Of course, there is an element
on the loyalist side which brings no credit on the Protestant
cause and all the fault does not lie on the one side.
But it is vital that the broader picture is accepted. This
is a struggle for territory, and on the republican-nationalist
side it is very much a bid for further expansion.
Since the outbreak of the Troubles in 1969 the Protestant
position in Belfast, especially in the north and west has
been under severe pressure. In the west the Protestants have
been reduced to a small minority in the upper Shankill and
a few housing estates like Highfield and Springmartin, and
the republican muscle is shown each year as opposition to
the annual Whiterock Orange parade intensifies.
In North Belfast, a safe Ulster Unionist seat in the 1960s,
there has been a dramatic increase in the Roman Catholic population
with the take-over of many former Protestant streets in Oldpark
- the Bally streets for example - in a large part of Duncairn,
in Cavehill, Antrim Road, and Newington.
Protestants, however, have stood firm in Glenbryn, Tiger's
Bay, Whitewell, Manor Street and the other interface areas.
The pressure is now on for further republican expansion, and
the strong suspicion is that the latest offense is geared
to try and prevent the rehabilitation of long neglected Protestant
districts and the provision of new modern housing.
It is up to the Government and Housing Executive to press
on with the plan to give Protestants the modern housing they
deserve, and also provide the 1,700 new houses which will
break the back of the housing lists in all areas of North
Belfast.
But for the moment the priority is to restore peace to the
streets of North Belfast, and the police and army resources
must be adequate to do this. Some people have spotlighted
the cost in financial terms of doing this, but it is something
that cannot be avoided.
The innocent people of North Belfast - the vast majority
of people - deserve to live in peace and normality and not
have to contend with rioting and violence on their doorsteps.
Security must be commensurate with the needs of the area and
regrettable while the cost may be, it cannot be the deciding
factor.
Republican expansion and take-over attempts must not be allowed
to succeed at the expense of long established Protestant districts
in urgent need of new modern housing. Protestants deserve
the same standard of new housing provided for nationalist
areas throughout the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.
|
