New Belfast viewpoint - 08-05-2008

Belfast`s newest tourism facility was officially opened today - providing a much appreciated vista of the city`s main landmarks.

Sited at the junction of Upper Springfield Road and Monagh Road, the pavement board is a waist-high feature highlighting the key places of interest on the skyline.

The panoramic vantage point has long been a favourite location for broadcast and print camera operators. And now, thanks to this Belfast City Council initiative, tourists will be encouraged to use it too.

This new facility is just one part of Belfast City Council`s `Renewing the Routes` project aiming to improve neighbourhoods by enhancing the appearance of main roads leading into the city centre.

It ties in with the ethos of the Council`s `Brighter Belfast` campaign to make the city a cleaner and more attractive environment for locals and visitors.

The Springfield Viewpoint was developed with the help of local community input and will be followed by a continuation of a shop fronts facelift scheme along Upper Springfield Road and environmental improvements at key junctions and public spaces throughout the district.

Belfast City Council`s `Renewing the Routes` project has now secured ₤415,000 from the Integrated Development Fund for the Upper Springfield. Work is scheduled to continue until the end of March 2009.

The project involved local young people who created bronze artworks highlighting some of the city`s landmarks. It also encouraged further input from Groundwork and the Upper Springfield Arts Project as part of the tourism offer in West Belfast.

Regeneration work on Belfast`s arterial routes follows a key recommendation of the West Belfast and Greater Shankill Task Force report of 2002 highlighting the need for enhancement of main roads to and from the city centre

The Integrated Development Fund is administered by the Department of Social Development.

Upper Springfield Arts Project is funded by the National Lottery through the Arts Council of NI and Belfast Regeneration Office Neighbourhood Renewal.

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