Republican News · Thursday 30 January 1997

ti-joyriding activists claim success.

Communities at Poleglass and Twinbrook have claimed a victory in the first leg to defeat the plague of joyriding in their areas.

Residents committees were joined by Gerry Adams, Sinn Fein councillor Michael Ferguson and Parish Priest Fr McGirr on Thursday, 23 January, in a meeting with representatives from the Department of the Environments (DoE) Traffic Branch, the Housing Executive (NIHE) and Making Belfast Work (MBW) on a tour around the area to point out the problems and measures that may help solve them.

Among the measures suggested were chicanes on the long fast roads used as race tracks by `joyriders', speed reduction ramps at entrances to estates, zebra crossings at schools and shops. They were also shown local shopping areas where stolen cars had been burnt and which were littered with rubbish.

Gerry Adams says he will be holding further meetings with statutory and government agencies to discuss the issues, the next being at the Diary Farm Civic Centre on 12 February.

He said ``I am confident the statutory and government departments have come to realise the responsibility that they bear with regard to combating the problems in these areas. I would like to take this opportunity to commend the residents who have worked so hard to help solve the problem and make it a safe place for the vast majority of decent people living here. I would call on the media not to capitalise from sensationalism of this issue but to point out the problems the people are facing''.

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