Palmerston Residents Association Press Release

News Release

Sydenham Community Station

We are very please to tell you that Palmerston Residents Association has been in talks with NIR, George Best Belfast City Airport, EBCDA, Parks and Leisure Department and Neighbourhood Watch.

What is going to happen?

New Flower Beds

Tree Planting

Community Garden

Fencing along front of station removed at disabled access

Flower Beds

Will take into account both rail platforms shrubs are to be planted, along with roses in all colours. This work will be carried out for you the community of Sydenham

Tree Planting

Will include the front of the station and along the Bangor side of the track with various tree specimens. This work will be carried out for you the community of Sydenham

Community Garden

This is a very special garden with raised planters made from railway sleepers and disabled access. The garden will be special because the planters will be used by the local schools in the area to grow plants and shrubs. Our senior citizens will also have a planter in the area which will also be used by NIR as an open class room to teach our children about the dangers of tracks and rail lines. There will also be a memorial garden set aside for local residents and community workers who in the past worked for the better of our community to bring about better living standards for all us. This work will be done for you the community of Sydenham.

Fencing

Fencing will be removed the length of the disabled entrance to give the station the appearance of a much softer look, adding character to the frontage

of the station. This work will be carried for you the community of sydenham.

Our Sponsors

The Sydenham Station has been sponsored by NIR, George Best Belfast City Airport, EBCDA, Parks and Leisure and Neighbourhood Watch,

The Palmerston Residents Association has been working with our sponsors to make this happen for our community, the association has felt for some time that our station did not reflect our community we felt the Sydenham Community has been left for to long with out improvements to the life of the local community. The Residents Association has seen great changes taking place within our community, people are working very hard to bring enjoyment to al of our community. We only have to look at the Titanic festival last year and the George Best Community Cup this year running with the Titanic Festival. These events are all being organised by the local youth in the area. Palmerston Residents Association are still in talks with NIR to have it rebranded and known as Sydenham Community Station, we are also in talks with them to bring special trains to our community station for away days for the local children in the area. We would also like to see NIR bring their special train for children with face painters for the younger children. Why do we want this to happen? The Palmerston Residents Association cares about the community and will work hard to bring about changes for our senior citizens, Young Mothers, the Youth, in fact everyone in the Sydenham area.

Sydenham Station Footbridge

We can confirm that NIR are not the owner of the bridge, we believe it to be the responsibility of the road service. We now want changes to the bridge and we are hoping to have talks with the road service, backed by NIR to have something done about the footbridge to enable all the community to have access to all of the services at Sydenham Station.

Palmerston Residents Association would like to thank all the sponsors involved in bringing about the changes that are now taking place we would also like to thank all the people in the background that work on behalf of our community and who have helped with this project

Katy Best, Michelle Hartfield, Gerard McAtarsney, Alan Mc Haffie, Chris Deconnick Sean McCormick, Sandra Workman, David McConnell, Robert McCreary, Naomi Long, Chris Lyttle and Jim Rodgers,

We would ask all our community both young and old to look after our Station, we are still in talks with NIR to bring youth and child based away days to our community. We hope this will take place soon we need your help do not let anyone damage or spray-paint in or around our station as this will affect everything we are trying to do with the station. PLEASE HELP TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY BETTER FOR ALL OF US.

Terry Hoey

Palmerston Residents Association