Residents unite to rid their area of eyesore at Holywood Arches in east Belfast

Chris Lyttle is Alliance MLA for East Belfast

By Linda Stewart

An eyesore near Holywood Arches in east Belfast has been transformed by local residents, traders and community groups.

Alliance Party representatives teamed up with Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, Helm Housing, Belfast City Council and Conservation Volunteers to clear up fly-tipped litter on Grampian Avenue.

Old carpets, chairs and even ornaments were among rubbish dumped on derelict land.

Volunteers cleared 30 bags of rubbish.

Alliance MLA Chris Lyttle, Deputy Lord Mayor Maire Hendron and Councillor David Armitage pitched into the clean-up.

Mr Lyttle said: "I'm delighted to see residents taking ownership of the area and working alongside the agency staff to transform their surroundings. But there is still a lot of work to be done."

Councillor Maire Hendron said: "The residents have shown today that they take pride in the local community and have worked hard to clean up the area.

"Their enthusiasm is inspirational and what they have achieved shows other local communities what is possible."