British soldiers left the last army base in west Belfast for the final time yesterday after the site was officially handed over following its demolition.
Demolition work on the Fort Whiterock base on the Upper Springfield Road was completed two weeks ahead of schedule, and a unit from the 1st Battalion of the Green Howards, who had been guarding the workers, left the base shortly after the handover.
The battalion was the last of an estimated 7,500 soldiers who operated in the base for more than 20 years. The site was returned to its original owners, the Industrial Development Board, and Whiterock Industrial Estates Limited.
The Northern Ireland Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, welcomed the move. "I am very pleased to learn that this work has finished ahead of schedule. I look forward to the development of the site and the benefits which I hope it will bring to the local community."
Following the announcement last year that the base would be demolished, the Whiterock Strategic Steering Group was set up, comprising representatives from Sinn Fein, the IDB, the Local Enterprise Development Unit (LEDU), the West Belfast Partnership and the Upper Springfield Development Trust.