Irish language primary school in east Belfast given temporary planning approval

An Irish language primary school in east Belfast has been given temporary planning approval by Belfast City Council.

Councillors gave the green light for a proposed temporary nursery and primary school, a soft play area, new access, parking, landscaping, and ancillary site works.

The site is at lands adjacent and east of 44 Montgomery Road, east Belfast BT6, and the applicant is the Bunscoil na Seolta of Glenmachan Road, east Belfast.

On a recorded vote, the application received 11 in support, and five against the plan - all of which were from the DUP.

The council received two objections from a resident and an elected representative and nine letters of support from the public.

The two objections raised concerns about loss of employment land, so-called “incompatible land use”, insufficient transport infrastructure and parking.

The objectors raised considerations over alternative sites, sustainability, and said there was “a lack of demonstrated need”.

Language rights activist Linda Ervine, who founded Irish language group Turas, also appeared at the planning committee meeting to represent the applicant.

DUP councillor Sammy Douglas asked her if she was “picking up any community concerns or tensions” as a result of the application.

She replied: “Just the opposite. We delivered 17,000 leaflets in and around the east Belfast area and we ended up getting over 200 expressions of interest from parents in the local area. And that is for children from the age of birth up to the age of starting.

“At the moment we have 60 applications, to start in September, many from that very local area.

“We have attended a number of events in east Belfast, the Network Centre in Templemore Avenue, and on the Cregagh Road, and received an awful lot of positivity from people.”

DUP councillor Dean McCullough said: “No one is against any children getting any form of education. There is though a clear competition of plans and proposals in the east of the city, and indeed across the city.

“Employment land is critical, as is land for social housing. Planning has to be guided by the needs of the community, based on abject needs. It also needs to be guided by consent, community benefit, and community impact.

“I say with respect to Linda, we must be speaking to a very different Clonduff, or very different community representatives.

“I say respectfully the concerns are loud and clear in that part of east Belfast and wider.”