One of Belfast's most battle-scarred military bases is to be shut down, it was announced today.
British troops are to quit Girdwood Barracks later this year. They were stationed in the installation through decades of civil unrest and violence in the North.
Northern Ireland Chief Constable Hugh Orde confirmed the closure as part of new security arrangements. A military observation post attached to Oldpark police station is also to be removed.
Both the base and watchtower are located in the north of the city, where sectarian tensions raged throughout the Troubles.
Mr Orde, who consulted the British army's General Officer Commanding in Northern Ireland, Major General Phillip Trousdell, insisted the move would not impact on military back-up to his force.
Although 40 infantry currently stationed there will move out within months, overall security in the area will not be reduced, police said. The 14-acre Girdwood site's shutdown is expected to be completed by the autumn.
British army bosses will attempt to relocate 16 civilian staff, either to Ministry of Defence offices or other government departments. But a spokesman admitted some redundancies may be necessary.
First refusal on the land, just off the Crumlin Road, will be offered to the Northern Ireland administration at market value.
Meanwhile, the Oldpark post is due to be dismantled within the next three weeks.
The Democratic Unionist MP for North Belfast, Mr Nigel Dodds, hit out at the closures.
He said: "This decision is totally wrong in light of the continuing exposure of the utterly bogus and fraudulent nature of the IRA's commitment to peace." But Sinn Fein North Belfast MLA, Mr Gerry Kelly, insisted the move was essential for an economically deprived area.
"The site should have been returned to the local community long ago in order to provide an area of substantial redevelopment," he added.