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The Traders Forum - Working with PLACE
West Belfast Traders Forum will be working with PLACE the Belfast based organisation examining issues relation to planning, landscape, architecture, community and Environment to compile a Design and Development Brief for the regeneration of the site of the former Andersonstown RUC Station site in West Belfast.
DSD have decided to redevelop the site to promote economic regeneration through a project called EXPO West. To prepare the brief we want to gain insight and input from as many stakeholders and neighbours as possible. In order to do this we will will be holding a series of community and public meetings over the coming weeks, in preparation we would ask for people’s thoughts on the following questions:
1. What do you feel about the neighbourhood around the Andersonstown Barracks Site?
2. What does the Neighbourhood need?
3. What are your thoughts about the site as it was and as it is?
4. Can this site provide any neighbourhood needs?
5. Should the site be used to help promote neighbourhood regeneration?
6. What would you not want on the site?
Geraldine McAteer from the West Belfast Partnership said, “I encourage everyone to put their views forward during this process. Alongside the consultations we have developed a dedicated Website and Facebook page which will feed directly into the Design and Development Brief. Geraldine went on to say “we are delighted to work with PLACE and DSD on compiling the Brief for the barracks. We are engaging across the board with different groups of people, from the elderly, cultural groups, local residents, elected representatives and young people.” Gerry McConville, Chair of the Partnership explained the importance of community ownership of the site “This is an important symbolic site for west Belfast. For such a long time the community did not have a choice in what was there and now is the opportunity to feed into this process and shape the future of the area.” The final Brief produced will define the uses that arise from this participatory process and also define the context (social, economic, physical, cultural etc); Out of this process the RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) will be commissioned to organise an international architectural design competition based on the brief. The world’s most celebrated currently practicing architect has already agreed to chair to competition Jury and wide interest is anticipated. The site is central in West Belfast and the previous barracks was undoubtably a landmark - it is hoped that any new building will have a striking presence albeit for a less contentious role. This could well result in a major iconic building which will become known worldwide. For further information and feedback please feel free to visit the website for regular updates at www.expowestbelfast.com, or leave your comments facebook.com/pages/Andytown-Barracks-Site-Have-Your-Say and Twitter: @AtownEXPOWest
Much great is being done by the West Belfast Traders Forum.
The group’s Stephen Long, explains; “Many of the burning issues local business people face a aily have been tackled by the Forum.
“We have provided the opportunity to meet with key policy makers for the area and influenced policy to the benefit of the local community.
“In 2010 we will continue the great work already being carried out, engaging with all relevant statutory departments to help improve the environment in which we trade.
We hope The West Belfast Traders Forum is regarded as a important mechanism in the ongoing physical regeneration of the area, as we help create a more welcoming west Belfast for all!”
Recently, the Traders Forum arranged a series of events to create an exciting mix of facilitation of meetings with local and regional stake holders and seminars and workshops to increases the skills base of the local, indigenous small businesses.
Aisling Bursaries
The West Belfast Traders Forum actively support the Aisling Bursaries. As well as working with the local some sector's you will find the West Belfast Traders Forum working on a range of social and educational initiatives, Patrick McDonald of the Traders Forum notes;
“We at the Traders forum believe that the work we carry out should not just stop at the local business community but also recognise the important role that education plays in the creation of young entrepreneurs, therefore the Aisling Bursaries are paramount to this development”.
As we are all well too aware education budgets and grants are being cut from all quarters, therefore the big hearted businesses in West Belfast continue to pledge their financial support to ensure that students in the area don’t miss out on further and higher education opportunities as a result of lack of finance. To date over 329 students have benefited from the initiative and local business have contributed over £291,000 to help local students continue with education.
Buy Local
The West Belfast Traders Forum is supporting our members in their efforts to be stewards of our region and in turn, we ask our community to be supportive of our local, independently owned businesses. The Buy Local campaign enhances the livability of our community, the stability and diversity of the local economy, and the retention and expansion of independent, locally owned businesses through increasing awareness about the personal, community, and economic benefits of choosing local first.
“We are encouraging the local community to support local and indigenous businesses which in turn will help boost the local economy,” claimed Patrick McDonald Secretary of the Traders Forum
“With such a dense population living in the west of the city, massive sums of cash are spent by people of West Belfast on a weekly basis. All we are asking is that they think local and buy local where possible”.
To reiterate this idea the West Belfast Traders Forum have been working tirelessly with providers to broker deals for local Businesses where possible. One such incentive has been the negotiation of special discounts to all members of the Traders Forum from Hughes & Co Insurance, this partnership has allowed members of the Traders forum to avail of both significant discounts on Business and personal insurance services.
West Belfast Traders Forum recognises that it is not always possible to buy everything you need from locally owned businesses, but if everyone purchased one more item locally when they shopped, the effects would be tremendous. The point of this campaign is to encourage people to think Local First: choose locally owned businesses when choosing where to buy goods and services!
