Post by earl on Nov 6, 2007 12:03:30 GMT
Bus tour is driven off Falls Road
Belfast Lord Mayor Jim Rodgers has labelled those responsible for pelting two sightseeing buses with bottles and stones as "anti-social yobs and thugs" after it emerged part of west Belfast had been branded a no-go area for tourists following two separate attacks this week.
Up to 50 city centre visitors were sitting on the top deck of a tour coach yesterday when bottles and stones were thrown by youths as the vehicle passed Dunville Park in the Falls area.
No-one was hurt during the incident, but the popular red City Sightseeing buses will boycott the area for the foreseeable future as a precautionary measure.
Company owner Joe Lavelle told the Belfast Telegraph that he was taking immediate action - amid fears for the safety of tourists and local people.
" It happened quite quickly," he said.
"At least three bottles and some stones were thrown at the bus. Luckily nobody got hit, but a number of people were very shaken up and frightened.
"The attack was obviously not a spur of the moment thing. From now on we will not be sending buses on to the Falls Road."
Yesterday's incident is the second to occur on the Falls Road - a major tourist attraction because of its republican murals - in the same number of days.
On Wednesday, a group of young people on a tour of the west of the city launched attacks on the Falls Road Memorial Garden and the Bobby Sands mural from an open-top bus.
Some of the teenagers, who attend Northern Regional College on the Shore Road, were dressed in Rangers tops.
A college spokesperson last night confirmed that a "complete and thorough" investigation into the incident was under way.
"I can't make any comment until we know all the details surrounding the alleged attack. Then we will take appropriate action," she said.
The Lord Mayor said he was disappointed by these latest attacks and feared they would have an affect on tourism in the city.
"This sends out a terrible message about our great city," he said. "There were many tourists on those buses whose first impressions would have been that.
"Fortunately no one was seriously hurt but this could spoil us from getting more visitors.
"I want to send a strong message to those responsible - stop this loutish behaviour, keep out of our public parks because you are not welcome there and I would urge those communities to assist us in our fight in what has been a growing problem."
The driver of the tour bus involved in yesterday's attack, who asked not to be named, condemned the attack and called for calm so that the service could resume as normal.
"It happened around lunch time," he said.
"We saw a group of youths lying in wait as we approached the park.
"Initially, we thought we were being attacked by water bombs. But then we heard stones and at least three bottles hitting the bus and cracking.
"The bus was full of people - from America, Spain, France etc. They were very apprehensive afterwards to say the least.
"The last thing we need in Belfast is to frighten tourists."
He stressed that City Sightseeing has been at the forefront of promoting tourism in Belfast.
"We would ask those with any influence in the community to intervene to nip this sort of incident in the bud," he said.
"It's very fortunate that we are not talking about an overseas visitor who was seriously injured. Those bottles and stones could also have hit cars or local people in the area and caused them harm."
Stephen Long, general manager of the West Belfast Taxi Association, who also provides sightseeing trips, added: "Everyone is welcome here.
"Tourism is a vital part of the regeneration of Belfast and anything that would deter a tourist from coming here is detrimental to us all."
A PSNI spokesperson last night confirmed that investigations into both incidents are ongoing.
Belfast Lord Mayor Jim Rodgers has labelled those responsible for pelting two sightseeing buses with bottles and stones as "anti-social yobs and thugs" after it emerged part of west Belfast had been branded a no-go area for tourists following two separate attacks this week.
Up to 50 city centre visitors were sitting on the top deck of a tour coach yesterday when bottles and stones were thrown by youths as the vehicle passed Dunville Park in the Falls area.
No-one was hurt during the incident, but the popular red City Sightseeing buses will boycott the area for the foreseeable future as a precautionary measure.
Company owner Joe Lavelle told the Belfast Telegraph that he was taking immediate action - amid fears for the safety of tourists and local people.
" It happened quite quickly," he said.
"At least three bottles and some stones were thrown at the bus. Luckily nobody got hit, but a number of people were very shaken up and frightened.
"The attack was obviously not a spur of the moment thing. From now on we will not be sending buses on to the Falls Road."
Yesterday's incident is the second to occur on the Falls Road - a major tourist attraction because of its republican murals - in the same number of days.
On Wednesday, a group of young people on a tour of the west of the city launched attacks on the Falls Road Memorial Garden and the Bobby Sands mural from an open-top bus.
Some of the teenagers, who attend Northern Regional College on the Shore Road, were dressed in Rangers tops.
A college spokesperson last night confirmed that a "complete and thorough" investigation into the incident was under way.
"I can't make any comment until we know all the details surrounding the alleged attack. Then we will take appropriate action," she said.
The Lord Mayor said he was disappointed by these latest attacks and feared they would have an affect on tourism in the city.
"This sends out a terrible message about our great city," he said. "There were many tourists on those buses whose first impressions would have been that.
"Fortunately no one was seriously hurt but this could spoil us from getting more visitors.
"I want to send a strong message to those responsible - stop this loutish behaviour, keep out of our public parks because you are not welcome there and I would urge those communities to assist us in our fight in what has been a growing problem."
The driver of the tour bus involved in yesterday's attack, who asked not to be named, condemned the attack and called for calm so that the service could resume as normal.
"It happened around lunch time," he said.
"We saw a group of youths lying in wait as we approached the park.
"Initially, we thought we were being attacked by water bombs. But then we heard stones and at least three bottles hitting the bus and cracking.
"The bus was full of people - from America, Spain, France etc. They were very apprehensive afterwards to say the least.
"The last thing we need in Belfast is to frighten tourists."
He stressed that City Sightseeing has been at the forefront of promoting tourism in Belfast.
"We would ask those with any influence in the community to intervene to nip this sort of incident in the bud," he said.
"It's very fortunate that we are not talking about an overseas visitor who was seriously injured. Those bottles and stones could also have hit cars or local people in the area and caused them harm."
Stephen Long, general manager of the West Belfast Taxi Association, who also provides sightseeing trips, added: "Everyone is welcome here.
"Tourism is a vital part of the regeneration of Belfast and anything that would deter a tourist from coming here is detrimental to us all."
A PSNI spokesperson last night confirmed that investigations into both incidents are ongoing.
