THE IRISH NEWS:
Posted by Jim on November 23, 2025
Northern Ireland
‘Conversation’ begins about potential removal of Alexandra Park peace wall.
Structure dividing the north Belfast park will only be removed with residents’ consent.
The peace wall and gate at Alexandra Park in north Belfast.
By Michael Kenwood
November 23, 2025 at 12:44pm GMT
A so-called peace wall that has dissected a north Belfast park for decades could be removed but only if nearby resident’s consent.
A Belfast City Council committee has agreed to a proposal to consult with locals before demolishing the barrier at Alexandra Park.
The wall has stood for more than 30 years, however, one councillor described the area, which last summer was the scene of rioting and ant-social behavior, as a “battleground”.
The park is managed by the council, while the wall belongs to the Department of Justice.
Alexandra Park is due to benefit from £12m investment through the European Peace plus programme that will see the provision of new sports and recreation facilities, as well as improving the connection to the nearby Waterworks.
The original proposal to remove the peace wall was tabled by Alliance representative Sam Nelson, who noted that Stormont’s Together: Building a United Community (T:BUC) strategy had aimed to remove all interface structures by 2023.
A Sinn Féin amendment, forwarded by Councilor Ryan Murphy, that “prioritises concerns of surrounding residents”, was accepted by Alliance.
Mr Nelson told last Friday’s meeting of the strategic policy and resources committee that the wall in Alexandra Park had stood for more than 30 years – “longer than the Berlin Wall stood”.
“The current plans are to re-image the wall but I don’t believe in 2025 we should be giving a facelift to division,” he said.
“It is something we should be showing leadership on, and this is the time to do it.”
Mr Murphy described the wall as “a blight” but said the Peaceplus funds presented an opportunity to have a “conversation” about the wall’s removal.
He said there was also an opportunity to provide much-needed “pitch provision”.
DUP councilor Fred Cobain said he was supportive of removing peace walls but that over recent years Alexandra Park had been a “battleground”.
“As far as I am concerned the most important part is the consultation of those who live in that area, and without their approval, obviously this thing is not going to go anywhere,” he said.
SDLP councilor Carl Whyte claimed the council had no authority to intervene and that responsibility lay with the Department of Justice.
“We would all like to see peace walls removed after engagement with local communities, but I question the decision by Alliance to bring this motion to Belfast City Council – a body with no power to intervene and remove this wall,” he said, indicating that responsibility lay with Alliance Justice Minister Naomi Long.
A Department of Justice (DoJ) spokesperson said officials were working with Belfast City Council and other partners on the redevelopment plans for Alexandra Park, including the potential changes to what was termed “the existing interface structure”.
“Community consent is a crucial consideration as part of any interface reduction or removal scheme,” the DoJ spokesperson said.
“The support and positive engagement of local political representatives is very welcome in helping to lead that conversation.”
According to DoJ, large portions of the wall are “redundant”.