Comments were justified

SIR, — I was interested to read two letters in last week’s Recorder  in response to my correspondence the previous week.

The letters I am referring to were penned by SDLP representatives Anne McAleenan and Mark Murnin after I criticised the absence of any representative from their party at the recent Assembly debate on the Ballynahinch by-pass.

I have never questioned cross-party support for the much-needed by-pass. Indeed the DUP has always encouraged cross-party backing for this scheme and will continue to do so, working with whomever to ensure the scheme is delivered.

At Down Council level, the SDLP has consistently been unanimous with its support for the by-pass and all politicians have been singing from the same hymn sheet on this particular issue. Every member of the council wants to see this vitally important road scheme coming to fruition.

We must recognise that the decision to release the cash to pave the way for the by-pass will be taken at Stormont. That’s why my party colleague Simon Hamilton secured a recent adjournment debate at the Assembly on this issue.

In my recent letter I made it clear that the DUP, UUP, Alliance and Sinn Fein all made valuable contributions to the debate and had simply asked why the SDLP had no representative in attendance? The party has 14 MLAs but not one of them could make it to the debating chamber.

The SDLP’s Margaret Ritchie did not participate in the debate and if she had been at Westminster, why could not one member of her party have deputised for her?

Yours etc.,

CLLR. BILLY WALKER,

Killyleagh.