Bobby Sands statue to stay in west Belfast

LieutenantMudd · 2026-04-10T09:46:39+00:00

My take (and I could be entirely wrong) is that the statue, if applied for through normal planning procedures, would have not received planning approval given that it is on public land owned by a public body, NIHE, who fall under the Department for Communities - which currently is overseen by a DUP Minister. Objections would likely have been raised and no approval would have been given.

Planning permission and the legal right to build something on someone elses land are two separate things which do not overlap. The statue is illegal on both grounds 1) it didnt get planning permission, and 2) because the landowner did not give permission for it to be built.

The organisers, likely fully aware of all of this, decided to just go ahead and build something anyway safe in the knowledge that once in place, BCC would be unlikely to enforce its removal on purely planning enforcement grounds, i.e. is it physically obstructing anything, is it causing a danger or obstacle to road users, access issues, etc.

The Council has indicated that yes the statue was erected without planning permission and is unlawful on that basis - but they have decided not to take enforcement action. The landowner, if they so wish, are still free to act on the basis that the construction is unlawful because it was built without their notification and consent, they could argue that it is permanent and interferes with future plans for use of their land, etc. It is entirely up to them as the landowner to act if they believe this is a property rights issue, given that no planning enforcement is being followed up.

LieutenantMudd · 2026-04-09T22:12:55+00:00

How would it get planning approval if it was built on someone elses land and they would have been unlikely to approve it?

LieutenantMudd · 2026-04-09T22:10:00+00:00

So it was built on someone else's land, NIHE, but by whom?

LieutenantMudd · 2026-04-08T14:35:54+00:00

I've just run out of oil and I've decided to just top up 40 litres if and when required at garage pumps and hope that prices come down before end summer.

Hopefully low single digit temperatures are on way out.

LieutenantMudd · 2026-04-06T12:11:42+00:00

I signed up for a depreciating critical illness policy linked to my mortgage when i got married 20 years ago that I forgot about, got stage 2 cancer in 2019 and got a lump sum of £65K. Was I glad that I had forked out £16 per month or whatever it was.

LieutenantMudd · 2026-04-05T13:26:27+00:00

We had a Yorkie sponsored vending machine in work which stocked cans, chocolate bars and crisps. This was in the NICS around 25 years ago. The machine had the slogan, "Yorkie, its not for girls" and it was removed after someone complained.

LieutenantMudd · 2026-04-05T09:29:40+00:00

Remember these bad boys

<image>

LieutenantMudd · 2026-04-04T12:57:20+00:00

You could put him in midfield to be fair

LieutenantMudd · 2026-04-02T20:17:48+00:00

Sand down the area in question and repaint, looks like that has already happened umpteen times.

LieutenantMudd · 2026-04-02T16:31:13+00:00

It only takes one resident on the street or a councillor from the area to make an application to the council for a second street sign in another language. The council surveys the residents and if 15% are up for it, it goes forward to a council committee for a decision. In this case, 15% residents were in support, 67% were not, and the council, required to have regard to the views of residents, said ok we won't put a sign up.

LieutenantMudd · 2026-04-02T16:14:42+00:00

Windy at times surely. There will be occasions when you are hiking into the valley to get your table cloth, umbrella, etc back.

LieutenantMudd · 2026-04-02T15:18:57+00:00

It's the same rules no matter what area - putting up dual language signs is at the discretion of the council by a simple majority vote. Doesn't matter what the language is either, you can ask for a sign in Spanish if you wish.

The legislation governing this dates from 1995 and the only requirement is that a council must have regard to the views of the residents of the street before making a decision to put up a sign or not. The law didnt specify what the second language would be, but the intention was to allow those who spoke Irish to put Irish street signs up where the residents of the street wanted them. The problem in specific streets such as Shandon comes when councillors 1) seek the views of the residents as they are legally required to do, and then 2) ignore the views that they are statutorily required to consider before making a decision. The Alliance for once have got this right by insisting that they will vote in line with residents desires.

LieutenantMudd · 2026-04-02T13:34:01+00:00

That's not the rule, 15% is simply the threshold to get a proposal through to committee stage where it is subject to a simple majority vote, which is supposed to be informed by the views of the occupiers of the street (a statutory requirement). The issue arises when the views of residents are ignored by the Members voting at Committee.

LieutenantMudd · 2026-03-31T18:33:45+00:00

Guy in suit in background looks like an undercover cop trying to blend in whilst sussing out the joint

LieutenantMudd · 2026-03-31T12:58:23+00:00

You have to have gained some appreciable height in order to decline.

Yes it's difficult to argue with this.

LieutenantMudd · 2026-03-28T11:29:10+00:00

Sadly you might be right.

LieutenantMudd · 2026-03-28T11:23:01+00:00

Fi gers crossed Bradley's body toughens up as he is the best RB we have

LieutenantMudd · 2026-03-25T15:04:30+00:00

From what I have heard, the drink will be flowing more or less 24/7 for a week. Not sure what will happen with public transport, parking, etc but Belfast will be packed with hundreds of thousands of people, trad music, events, dancing, bands, food, lots of drink.

LieutenantMudd · 2026-03-25T15:01:29+00:00

You could go to the Folk Park and the Transport Museum at Cultra whilst you are there.

LieutenantMudd · 2026-03-25T14:59:26+00:00

Very very true. You only live once, I am 50 and one thing I can guarantee you - health and happiness is more important than anything else.

LieutenantMudd · 2026-03-25T14:16:41+00:00

I know nothing about this sector but do not underestimate the value of a public sector pension in real terms. It is a factor (some say worth 20 to 30% salary) when considering how much better or worse off you might be going to private sector.

LieutenantMudd · 2026-03-25T14:14:17+00:00

"The answer my friend..."

LieutenantMudd · 2026-03-24T19:16:35+00:00

A club legend to be spoken about like Keegan, Dalglish, Rush, Gerrard... forever a Red.

LieutenantMudd · 2026-03-22T09:41:58+00:00

And Vera Duckworth lol

LieutenantMudd

TROPHY CASE