Holylands set to have a secure makeover

Security gates could forge a new era for the lands


298 security gates are being put up all over Belfast city with quite a few being put up in many Holylands alleyways.

The project is going to cost Belfast City Council approximately £700,000 and the gates are weatherproof with bad grips making it harder to climb over them.

A spokesperson for the Council has stated every registered resident of any streets where the gates go up, will get a key to have access in and out of the gates, but it is unknown whether these keys will be given to students renting houses, or only to their landlords.

She also stated that they have been receiving letters nearly every week, asking for some sort of  security precautions to be implemented over Belfast. The Council think it is a price they need to pay, but some residents in South Belfast feel the gates will drive crime away from certain areas to others.

Holylands Paddys Day Antics

The question is, do the Holylands need these precautions? Usually they were seen as handy shortcuts to the Spar or the carryout. Or to dump rubbish into the skips after your wheelie bin’s been tipped over for the umpteenth time.

Actual crimes such as drug use, sexual abuse, or theft are scarce and it begs the question whether the Holylands are made to be worse than they actually are?

They’re by no means holy, but are they criminal? Have your say here: