Through your columns I would like to make more residents of east Belfast aware of the quite inexplicable decision by Belfast City Council to demolish Avoniel Leisure Complex buildings. Many people do not realise that in a few short months the centre as we presently know it, will no longer exist.
The complex, which lies in the heart of the east Belfast community, is heavily used by a wide range of people who appreciate its convenience and first-rate facilities. These include a fine swimming pool, recently refurbished gymnasium, an excellent sports hall and a cafe that acts as a social hub for everyone. An impressive and varied range of physical activities are therefore available to the population of the whole area.
The demolition of the centre will change that. There will be staff job losses and the many sessions available to both men and women will cease. So just when the immense benefits of living a healthy lifestyle are being recognised and encouraged, the varied ways of achieving this lifestyle are being removed from our community. And this, at a time when increasing life expectancy and greater awareness of health and fitness will further increase demand for the many activities now provided at Avoniel. If this sports complex is removed it will result in a serious downgrading of the leisure facilities presently enjoyed by the people in a densely populated part of east Belfast. Even from a financial viewpoint the present proposals are difficult to understand. As a ratepayer I believe it makes no sense whatsoever to demolish a perfectly functional amenity worth millions, and with years of useful life remaining. Many share this view. We should be conserving resources rather than squandering them.
If the centre disappears additional journeys to other venues will increase traffic problems and pollution whereas Avoniel is on a Glider route and easily accessible to everyone. Many elderly people are unlikely to go elsewhere for a variety of reasons and opportunity for community social interaction will be drastically reduced. So, however one considers the present proposals they do not serve the area well.
Users of the centre have already signed a petition to retain the buildings and some attempts have been made to carry our concerns to the city council.
However, much more vigorous campaigning involving the whole East Belfast community is required if these issues are to be addressed and the scheme modified to reflect local views.
R MURRAY
East Belfast
Many thanks to RVH for the care and treatment
I was (un)fortunate to become an inpatient at the Royal Victoria Hospital for repair of an aneurysm, which had been picked up during a routine bowel CT scan. One of the dangers of this condition is that you do not even know that you have it, as with the lady from Derry who died because her’s ruptured (April 11).
Perhaps, to prevent such tragedies in future, a general scan be carried out on the general population over 50.
Unfortunately, this will present another strain on an already under pressure NHS unless, of course, we involve ourselves in making sure that it is properly funded.
My treatment by the hospital staff could not be bettered by a five-star hotel.
Our MLAs are presently underemployed, so may I suggest that they present themselves at their local hospitals to help out the ancillary staff on their 12/13 hour shifts, day and night.
After this experience they may be willing, when they get back to Stormont, to authorise a 25 per cent increase in wages across the board, followed by the same amount over the next three years, and then to leave all future increases to an independent body, similar to that used in Westminster which oversees MP wage increases.
Theresa May has stated that £20bn was made available to the NHS this year.
It has obviously not reached the areas of the NHS that most needs it.
I believe that what is called for now is an official Audit to find out just where this money has gone.
Again, RVH many thanks for the care received and the considerations given.
EDWARD MURPHY
Ballycastle, Co Antrim
Focused on truth and justice
I would like to respond to Jude Whyte (June 5).
Firstly, I met the UVF leadership after my son’s murder and when I asked them was he a member of the UVF they told me he wasn’t. I would ask Jude to give me whatever evidence he has to prove the UVF leadership lied to me, it would be greatly appreciated and help me. Secondly, Jude refers to the cross-community victims I help organise which he criticises by saying I put restrictions on who can speak. Jude has never once, I believe, attended one of these events where the platform is a shared platform of speakers from both communities.
The only “restrictions” are that paramilitaries aren’t invited and no political speeches are allowed. Maybe Jude should have defined what restrictions I introduced, as none were.
Rather than trying to divide victims I have not only encouraged integration of victims but given victims an opportunity to speak together so the message is loud and clear that we stand and speak as one. I fully support the marchers and the victims and their aims as I’ve worked with many of the victims individually and the campaigning groups and done my best to help them. My issue is simply that we share the same pain and share the same aims and quest for truth and justice so we should also share the same platform. Finally, I would say to Jude don’t try to twist what I’m saying or doing as any victim who knows me knows I try to bring victims together irrespective of who they are and also by court actions against the representatives of the state in not seeking justice for my murdered son but all victims. I don’t need Jude to tell me what or who I should focus on. For nearly 22 years my focus has been on truth and justice for all.
RAYMOND McCORD
Belfast
Apartheid concerns
Much of Francis Rice’s long letter – ‘Amazing the term ‘apartheid’ is considered smear on Israel’ (June 10) – was factually incorrect so allow me to address one issue which is often raised by those with an animus against Israel.
Those claiming to support Palestinian Arabs with a false ‘apartheid’ charge against Israel ignore where massive apartheid abuse is perpetrated against Palestinian Arabs.
There are more than one million such people suffering an apartheid going back 70 years in Jordan. They have been kept stateless in refugee camps into their fourth and fifth generations, many unable to enjoy higher education or government jobs in the land of their birth.
No other refugee in the world is granted that ageless status. Only Palestinians.
That is true apartheid, but Mr Rice is silent about this Jordanian abuse. But I offer him an even worse case of apartheid.
This is the apartheid of the Palestinian Authority against their own people.
There are thousands of Palestinians living in UN operated refugee camps in territories under the exclusive civil and security administration of the Palestinian Authority. This, as the kleptocracy of PA bureaucrats live in luxury.
How is this possible? If they live under their own governance, and born there, they are home, surely?
Let Mr Rice complain about this if he is truly concerned about Palestinian apartheid.
BARRY SHAW
Netanya, Israel
