Tá breis agus 5,000 páiste aitheanta go hoifigiúil mar dhaoine gan dídeán i mBéal Feirste amháin, agus is in Iarthar Bhéal Feirste atá níos mó ná 2,000 acu.

Tá an t-eagras PPR (Participation and the Practice of Rights) i mbun feachtas tábhachtach darb ainm ‘Take Back They City’ ina bhfuiltear ag iarraidh ar Chomhairle Cathrach Bhéal Feirste plean a chur i bhfeidhm le tithe a thógáil ar sheansuíomh an chomhlachta Mackie’s. Is talamh poiblí mór fairsing é an suíomh ach tá sé folamh le 20 bliain anuas, sa cheantar ina bhfuil an ghéarchéim thithíochta is measa ó thuaidh.

Tá achainí ar son an fheachtais ar siúl faoi láthair agus is féidir guth s’agat a chur in iúl anseo, sula a gcuireann an grúpa feachtasaíochta an plean foirmeálta ar aghaidh chuig Comhairle Cathrach Bhéal Feirste.

Chuaigh Meon Eile i dteagmhail le Comhairle Cathrach Bhéal Feirste le heolas a fháil ar cad é go direach atá ar bun faoi láthair chun tús a chur leis an phleanáil do Mackie’s. Seo thíos an ráiteas a cuireadh ar fáil dúinn:

“Work has now been completed on the 12-kilometre Forth Meadow Community Greenway which runs through the former Mackie’s factory site. Proposals for the remainder of this site would be a matter for the landowners, rather than council. 

“As the local planning authority, if council receives a formal planning application for the remainder of the site, our Planning Committee will consider this, as it would any other planning application. 

“As council are also responsible for managing and maintaining the Forth Meadow Community Greenway, we would also expect to be consulted on any future development proposals for land which neighbours the greenway.”

Find the original video and article by Eilís Nic Lochlainn on Meon Eile’s website here