Integrated estate
A NEW integrated Enniskillen estate has made history by housing Catholic
families along-side Protestant families.
The first estate of its kind to be opened in 40 years was opened by Northern
Ireland Secretary Peter Hain.
The estate will house 20 families who have all signed a Neighbourhood
Charter. The charter bans the erection of flags and the painting of murals
and kerbstones.
The Carran Crescent estate will be held up as a model for the new society
that is hoped to be brought about if the St Andrew’s Agreement is
accepted.
Of the current housing estates managed by the North’s Housing Executive,
97 per cent are either all Protestant or Catholic.
Housing segregation is estimated to cost the British government £1.5billion
a year in providing duplicate facilities such as leisure centres.
No more than 70 per cent of the mixed Carran estate will belong to one
faith.
Chief executive of the Housing Executive Paddy McIntyre said plans were
in the pipeline for similar estates to be built if Carran was a success.
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