Council criticised for Loughinisland snub

Council criticised for Loughinisland snub

22 February 2017

LOUGHINISLAND’S omission from Newry, Mourne and Down Council’s draft play strategy has been described as a “shock” by Sinn Fein South Down Assembly election candidate Chris Hazzard.

He has raised the omission with local authority chief executive, Liam Hannaway, claiming people in the village are angry about the decision.

Mr Hazzard said he is “genuinely shocked” the draft strategy has overlooked the growing need for a playground for the wider Loughinisland area. 

“When you consider the lack of play facilities in the wider Loughinisland and Teconnaught area, coupled with the fact that both St Macartan’s and Holy Family primary schools are growing in size, it is completely unacceptable that plans are not being considered to meet the needs of local families,” he declared.

“It is a real shame that in a 175-page document, Loughinisland nor Teconnaught feature; not a single reference. This is simply not acceptable and must be addressed before this document is finalised.”

Mr Hazzard said while he fully accepts that addressing objective need is an expensive and difficult task for the local authority, he shares local families’ frustration that many towns and villages throughout the district have more than one play facility and yet the wider Loughinisland area has been left without yet again.

At Monday night’s meeting of the local authority’s Active and Healthy Communities Committee, the organisation’s chairwoman, councillor Gillian Fitzpatrick, said headway needs to be made on implementing the play strategy.

A consultation process with local communities is currently underway, with officers recommending a “stepped process” in engaging with local communities on the development of six new fixed play areas. Amongst the strategy plans are proposals to upgrade 23 existing play areas.

Councillor Fitzpatrick said while so much work has already gone into the process, she is disappointed there did not appear to be enough staff to make “speedier progress” and appealed for “appropriate resources to be put in place.”

The chairwoman added: “We need to be moving forward.”