Protesters hit out at privatisation of local forest parks

Protesters hit out at privatisation of local forest parks

22 March 2017

THE planned privatisation of services in local forest parks has been criticised at a recent protest.

Members of the local branch of the Labour Party in Northern Ireland joined other concerned residents to stage a protest in Tollymore Park last week against the threatened privatisation of services by Newry, Mourne and Down Council.

The council has taken control of leisure activities in local forest parks such as Castlewellan, Tollymore and Kilbroney which will be run by outside organisations. 

The Forest Service will continue to own the parks and have responsibility for the commercial forestry operations.

In Castlewellan Forest Park there are plans to refurbish the Annesley Gardens, arboretum, stable yard buildings and the trails. Mountain bike trails are already in operation.

In Tollymore the historic buildings are to be restored and there are plans to reopen the cafe in the park.

An organiser of the recent protest said visitors expressed their support for the protest.

“Many were concerned to hear that the local council are spending £20,000 on consultants to consider the viability of private companies taking over the management of our park services,” she said.

A concerned resident said private companies have one purpose — they are there to make a profit.  

“The only way they can do that is to increase charges,” said the resident.

“Once your park services are privatised, it will be extremely difficult to take back control.  The council runs services on behalf of all of us, private companies run services for their own profits, and they are not accountable.  Everywhere public services are privatised, decent employment is replaced by insecure, minimum wage jobs.”