12 November 1998 Edition
Delay on Jericho dismantling
By Ned Kelly
An Phoblacht has learned that the dismantling of the Jericho British Army Fort in West Belfast will be delayed by at least two months as the British Army decides which private contractor will get the demolition contract.
Max Hallonan of the British army press office confirmed that the British Government agency, the IDB, maintains ownership of a significant part of the site.
Against the background of circling private property developers, including the Phoenix Trust, Liam Stone, part of a community initiative, spoke of plans to put the site to good use for the local community.
Stone said, ``we need to create a mixed economy of jobs. The IDB needs to focus on attracting inward investment to this area of high structural unemployment to create `advanced' technology jobs. But we also need to have a site to take advantage of local skills, small businesses and crafts, and importantly we need a site for the `dirty' businesses, car mechanics and welding.''
Stone sees the site as also holding the potential to be a training centre for the traditional trades, carpentry, bricklaying or plumbing, all areas were skilled tradesmen are in demand but where no local training opportunities exist.
An Phoblacht has learned that the dismantling of the Jericho British Army Fort in West Belfast will be delayed by at least two months as the British Army decides which private contractor will get the demolition contract.
Max Hallonan of the British army press office confirmed that the British Government agency, the IDB, maintains ownership of a significant part of the site.
Against the background of circling private property developers, including the Phoenix Trust, Liam Stone, part of a community initiative, spoke of plans to put the site to good use for the local community.
Stone said, ``we need to create a mixed economy of jobs. The IDB needs to focus on attracting inward investment to this area of high structural unemployment to create `advanced' technology jobs. But we also need to have a site to take advantage of local skills, small businesses and crafts, and importantly we need a site for the `dirty' businesses, car mechanics and welding.''
Stone sees the site as also holding the potential to be a training centre for the traditional trades, carpentry, bricklaying or plumbing, all areas were skilled tradesmen are in demand but where no local training opportunities exist.