£700k Approved for Belfast Heritage Preservation Projects

Alliance Council Group Leader, Councillor Michael Long, has welcomed the news of funding to help protect three key heritage sites.

The largest portion, £600,000, is dedicated to the renovation of the historic Assembly Rooms, a crucial step ahead of the Fleadh scheduled for next summer, which is expected to attract one million visitors to Belfast. A further £50,000 each will be allocated to Friar's Bush and Riddel's Warehouse.

Cllr Long stressed that the investment addresses the long-term neglect of the city's historic sites, helping to preserve its "built heritage and history," and that the funding would "revitalise and regenerate our city." Friar's Bush is regarded as Belfast's oldest Christian burial ground, featuring graves linked to historical events such as the famine and cholera epidemics, and is also an important area for biodiversity. Riddel's Warehouse is a 19th-Century industrial site featuring a four-storey ironmongery warehouse.

This investment aims to prevent these sites from falling into ruin, ensuring future generations can experience Belfast's diverse history.

SDLP Welcomes Passing Of Baby Loss Certificates Bill

Matthew O'Toole MLA, SDLP Leader of the Opposition and Chair of the Stormont Finance Committee, has praised the passing of the Deaths, Still-Births and Baby Loss Bill, which successfully secured the inclusion of Baby Loss Certificates.

The Bill completed its final stage in the Assembly this week. Mr O'Toole highlighted the immense significance of this gesture for families across Northern Ireland who have experienced the grief of losing a baby. He stated that the certificates will allow parents to "remember their loss in their own way," and that parents had made it clear this would be beneficial in managing their grief. The Finance Committee played a strong role in advocating for the certificates' inclusion.

Mr O'Toole celebrated the cross-party collaboration involved in delivering this "tangible" measure, ensuring that "no family will ever find themselves in that position in future" where their loss is not properly recognised through official means.

Council Committee Approves Motion on Nature-Friendly Burials

Belfast City Council's People and Communities committee has passed an Alliance motion proposing the exploration of nature-friendly burials as an alternative to traditional burial and cremation. Brought forward by Ormiston Councillor Hedley Abernethy, the motion seeks to examine the feasibility of introducing natural burial options in Belfast.

Cllr Abernethy described natural burials as a potentially "more sustainable, dignified and low-carbon alternative to conventional burials," aimed at providing people and their families with greater choice. These types of burials, often called woodland burials, typically involve the use of biodegradable coffins or shrouds, avoid embalming, and take place in natural settings like meadows or woodlands, leading to benefits such as increased biodiversity and carbon capture. The Councillor noted the growing interest in this area, pointing out that over 270 natural burial sites already exist in England. The motion's success is a step towards providing more options for families, with Cllr Abernethy clarifying that the proposal is not intended to end traditional practices, but to explore alternatives to offer people the dignity and choice they desire in death.