Ballynahinch wins out in hot battle for £5,000

Ballynahinch wins out in hot battle for £5,000

9 September 2015

PAROCHIAL politics was in full force in the council chamber on Monday evening as councillors fought for their share of a £5,000 windfall being considered for Ballynahinch.

Councillors initially resisted a recommendation from the Enterprise Regeneration and Tourism Committee to allocate an extra £5,000 to the Harvest and Country Living Fair, which will be held later this month.

Newry Mourne and Down Council had already agreed to contribute £10,000 to the event but opinion was firmly divided over plans to increase this figure to £15,000.

During a protracted debate about ratifying the proposed increase, councillors from across the new district fought to protect their own patches, arguing that the money should be equally spread among their towns and villages including Downpatrick, Newcastle, Kilkeel, Warrenpoint and Crossmaglen.

They said they were particularly concerned by news that the council’s events budget, from which the money will come, is already £25,000 over budget due to an overspend in the recent Irish Open. 

Crossmaglen Sinn Fein councillor Terry Hearty said he was opposed to extra money for Ballynahinch considering his own town had only been offered £2,000 for its festival.

“If we go ahead with the £5,000 [for Ballynahinch] maybe there might be some generosity in the area, meaning we split that money and give £2,500 to Ballynahinch and £2,500 to Crossmaglen?” he said.

Warrenpoint Sinn Fein councillor Michael Ruane then said his town had also lost two thirds of its funding and suggested the money instead be split three ways.

Although Newcastle Sinn Fein councillor Willie Clarke initially insisted councillors needed to move away from “talking about us and them”, he then indicated the money may be best spent in his town considering the savings made through the cancellation of the Red Arrows display in Newcastle last month.

Council chairwoman Naomi Baillie then said everyone knew of worthy causes in their own districts, and she herself supported Downpatrick Community Collective’s need for funding, but said councillors “have to try to put aside parochial issues.”

Councillors eventually agreed to proceed to a vote with 20 voting in favour of the money for Ballynahinch and 16 against.

Rowallane councillors Garth Craig, William Walker and Terry Andrews welcomed the ratification.

DUP councillor Mr Craig said the council had already made savings of £25,000 due to the cancellation of Ballynahinch’s Game and Country Fair.

Councillor William Walker (DUP) agreed and said £25,000 had been set aside for Ballynahinch for the game fair which was not going ahead.

“Money can be found for other things but when it comes to the northern end of the district the answer is usually no,” he said.

“Ballynahinch has had nothing for years from our old council. It was a town where people were at each others’ throats but we are now bringing people together for the good. That is why I support Ballynahinch Harvest Fair getting extra money.”

SDLP councillor Terry Andrews agreed and said Ballynahinch had suffered a high suicide rate and would benefit from community events.