The announced closure of Girdwood army barracks and Oldpark observation post have been welcomed by the main nationalist parties, but condemned by unionists.
SDLP MLA Alban Maginness said it was time for Girdwood to be given to the community in North Belfast.
"The time is right for Girdwood to be released for public
development. In our negotiations with the British Government from the
Joint Declaration right through to Leeds Castle we have placed Girdwood
at the front of the queue because of the pressing housing need in North
Belfast. Furthermore we lobbied the Irish government to put pressure on
the British Government to honour its commitments in the Joint
Declaration in relation to Girdwood," he said.
"I believe it's appropriate that the British Government has
responded in this way and that the land has now come on stream. The
land will help alleviate housing need in North Belfast in a significant
way and pave the way forward for a new leisure facility in North
Belfast."
Sinn Féin party spokesperson on policing, Gerry Kelly said the
move to close the Antrim Road barracks and Oldpark observation post was
"long overdue".
"This is a welcome development and one that Sinn Féin has been
pushing on in negotiations before December. Girdwood covers over 23
acres of land in North Belfast, an area that suffers significant
multiple deprivation," he said.
"The site should have been returned to the local community long ago in order to provide an area of substantial redevelopment.
"In the negotiations before Christmas, Sinn Féin pushed for, and
the British agreed to, an accelerated demilitarisation process. One
aspect of this was the return of the extensive Girdwood barracks site
to the community.
"At Weston Park Sinn Féin secured a commitment from the British
Government that a wide range of British military and PSNI stations were
to close."
But there was anger among unionists over the closure of the two controversial sites.
Oldpark barracks, one of the smallest posts in the North was operating on a part-time basis while troop levels decreased.
The removal of the observation point at Oldpark will take two to
three weeks while between six to nine months is being mooted for the
demolition of Girdwood.
The number of troops who occupied the site on a caretaker basis will be returned to Palace Barracks.
North Belfast MP Nigel Dodds slammed the decision to close the base.
"This is a price the people of North Belfast should not have to
pay, given the serious security implications of recent IRA activity.
"This decision is totally wrong in light of the continuing
exposure of the utterly bogus and fraudulent nature of the IRA's
commitment to peace."
"Coming in the wake of sinister and threatening noises emanating
from republicans, it is sending out completely the wrong signals to a
community in north Belfast which has suffered more than its fair share
at the hands of terrorists.
