SENIOR Down Council officials are confident that two major leisure centre projects in Downpatrick and Saintfield will get the go ahead next month.
Last week the £14m replacement for the Down Leisure Centre and plans for a new £4m complex in Saintfield were discussed by a working group set up by the fledgling Newry Mourne and Down shadow council.
The working group is drawing up a capital programme for the new super council but the projects in Downpatrick and Saintfield had been excluded from a ‘green’ list of schemes included on a draft programme.
The working group met behind closed doors in Newry on Tuesday and after some sharp exchanges both projects were deferred until October 21.
Officials from the new shadow council had claimed the projects did not meet tough criteria being applied to all capital projects. However, Down Council officials argued the outstanding matters are minor and will easily be completed by the October meeting.
Even though some councillors from the Newry area are concerned the Downpatrick and Saintfield projects are being given special consideration, it is accepted by shadow council officers that both projects will almost certainly get the go ahead.
Rowallane DUP councillor William Walker said he was confident the projects would get the go-ahead despite the earlier concerns.
However, he was critical that two Rowallane members of the shadow council did not attend the meeting “to argue the case” for Saintfield community centre.
Alliance councillor Patrick Brown and the UUP’s Robert Burgess were not at the meeting of the working party, drawing sharp criticism from Mr. Walker.
“I am totally disgusted that on the day of one of the most important meetings since the shadow council elections these two councillors did not turn up to fight for the centre,” he said.
“Only Terry Andrews, Harry Harvey and myself turned up from Rowallane despite the fact that the Saintfield and Downpatrick projects had not been included on the green list,” added Mr. Walker.
“It is important that the electorate know that when important issues are being discussed that some councillors are not in the chamber.
“Much was made of councillor Brown being elected despite not canvassing yet those who voted for him should know that he was absent from the doorstep and is now absent from the chamber.”
However, Mr. Brown said he is very familiar with the Saintfield project and has given it his full backing.
“I do not have voting rights on that committee but my colleague Patrick Clarke does so I fully discussed the Saintfield project with him and he was fully prepared to speak on my behalf.
“However, it was clear even before the meeting that it was going to be deferred and I am confident it will get the go ahead in October.”
Mr. Brown, who completed his university degree in Sheffield just before the elections, said he has only missed one meeting of the shadow council because of a pre-booked holiday.
“I am in Sheffield at the moment tidying up a few things but I am fully committed to representing my constituents within the council,” he added.
Councillor Burgess, who was away on business on Tuesday, said he also had been fully briefed and knew the two projects were going to be deferred.