IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Linen Court, BELFAST, BT5 5LJ

See Image just out of picture to the left. The view towards the Dixon Park playing fields. This area is just inside section C5. The official website describes the works as “C5/ Knock River Section 3 - Grand Parade to Elmgrove Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) New / improved combined cycleway and walkway New connections / linkages to the Greenway Native planting”. The published drawing uses the description “C5/ Knock River Section 3 - Grand Parade to Elmgrove This section will create new connections and linkages for residents to the green and open spaces of the parks and the greenway.”

A new path, leading from close to the new footbridge Image, past the north western end of the Dixon Park playing fields.

See Image The view, upstream, towards Grand Parade. This is just inside the boundary between sections C6 and C5 (from Grand Parade). The published drawing describes the work as “Existing river course retained with works to allow flood waters to pass over weir with marginal/riparian planting to weir terraces. High-flow channel to be incorporated”.

The view downstream, towards the Knock/Loop confluence Image near Con O’Neill’s Bridge Image, behind Abetta Parade. This is just inside the boundary between sections C6 and C5 (from Grand Parade). The published drawing describes the work as “Existing river course retained with works to allow flood waters to pass over weir with marginal/riparian planting to weir terraces. High-flow channel to be incorporated”. For the record the entire site from here to Elmgrove, on the Beersbridge Road, is fenced off, with no public access, for the duration of the work.

Pylon and power lines, close to the playing fields and new footbridge Image, between Image and Image

The Connswater Greenway scheme includes several new footbridges across the Knock River (Conn’s Water on the Google map). This one is between Woodcot Avenue and The Hollow/Abetta Parade. Image shows the area during work but before construction of the bridge (of standard Greenway design) had started. Image shows the bridge after it had been named.

See Image The same footbridge after naming “Hutchinson Bridge (The new bridge linking Linen Gardens & Abetta Parade) is named after the former principal of Elmgrove Primary School from 2001-2011. He was an extremely popular figure with parents and within the wider community” (official Connswater Greenway website).

An uncompleted path behind Glenhoy Drive, upstream from here Image There was no work underway or contractor on site today. The official website’s last comments (16 March 2016) were “In the Dixon Playing Fields area, drainage works are complete and planting has begun” and “Landscaping works continue from Abetta Parade to the Beersbridge Road area as well as in the Dixon Playing Fields.“

Standard Greenway design litter bin and seat on the new path behind the Dixon Park playing fields.

Reputedly the oldest surviving structure in Belfast. Built on what were the lands of Con O’Neill, a 16th Irishman who owned much of east Ulster (later lost to Scottish settlers). Described (in 1967) by Charles Brett as “a hoop of ancient stonework crumbling shamefully at the foot of a pylon in the derelict wasteland behind Abetta Parade” – nothing has changed . . . . (Still in use by the way). Image (October 2012) shows the bridge, partly-submerged, after heavy overnight rain. Image shows the bridge after completion of restoration etc under the Connswater Greenway scheme.