Loughview must not become 'feud estate': Parsley

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 28th Jul 2005

North Down Alliance Councillor, Ian Parsley, has said that Loughview has never been and will never be a 'feud estate'.

The Holywood representative stated:

"I support robust police action designed to ensure that Loughview remains the peaceful, mixed estate it always has been.

"For many years Loughview has been an example to Northern Ireland of how estates can consist of people from different backgrounds living and working together peacefully. Most people in the area are quite distressed by the idea that the estate may be seen to belong to any single group, or be the centre of a feud. Loughview is, in fact, an inclusive, mixed area that hundreds of people are proud to call home.

"My party has held discussions with the police and sought assurances that disruption will be minimal. We have stressed also, however, that only the police and the courts have the right to deal with breaches of the peace within any estate. We have also sought assurances from the Housing Executive that Loughview will not become some sort of 'dumping ground'. The essential peaceful, mixed nature of the area must not be challenged."

ENDS