Dear supporters,

Thank you again for standing with us in opposition to the 17.5m mast that was erected at Ballysillan Road without proper consultation or community consent.

We’ve now received an official Stage 2 response from Belfast City Council — and sadly, it’s just as dismissive as we feared. Despite overwhelming public objection, vandalism at the site, and errors in the planning process, the Council claims they followed policy and that there's “nothing further they can do.” They’ve suggested that if we’re unhappy, we should take it to the Ombudsman.

Here’s what they didn’t acknowledge:

The mast is not actually sited at 423 Ballysillan Road as claimed — it's at the corner near Joanmount Gardens, right beside occupied flats, and across from Belfast Boys’ Model School.
The only people notified were a landlord (who didn’t inform tenants), an elderly carer (who didn’t read the letter), and the church — who formally objected and were ignored.
The mast is now covered in offensive graffiti, visible from the church — including antisemitic and politically charged language. The Council was warned this would happen.
I’ve gone back to the Council with a strong formal response demanding:

A full review of the mast’s true location and the misleading documentation.
Evidence of where and how the public notice was published.
Action on the vandalism and offensive content now on public display.
A halt to any future installations, including the one proposed at 168 Ballysillan Road.
This fight is not over, and your support matters more than ever. The Council may want to wash their hands of this — but we’re not going away. Please continue to share the petition and help spread awareness of how this was handled.

Together, we’re making noise. And we won’t be ignored.

With thanks,
 Ballysillan community