Council refuses grant to visitor centre

Council refuses grant to visitor centre

By David Telford

DOWN councillors have refused to provide a £40,000 payment to a Downpatrick visitor centre dedicated to St. Patrick.

The councillors say they cannot afford the one-off payment to the St. Patrick Centre to allow it to complete urgent repair work at its multi-million pound visitor complex.

Politicians have decided to refer the funding request to the new Newry, Mourne and Down Council which will be officially launched in April.

Members of Down Council's Strategic Policy and Resources Committee were told on Monday night that government support for a £233,000 revamp of the St. Patrick Centre building and an upgrade of the audio-visual equipment is no longer available.

As a result of the funding  setback, the Centre is planning to carry out emergency work required to the fabric of the building and to maintain the existing exhibition.

In a letter to councillors, Mr. John Carson, the chairman of the centre, explained the exhibition requires "essential" audio visual and control system upgrades before the tourist season begins in March.

However, Sinn Fein councillor Éamonn Mac Con Midhe said Down Council has "continually tried to help" the St. Patrick Centre by providing financial support. "Every time the Centre fails it comes back for more money. The more it fails the more money we give them. It is okay to see this is a visitor attraction but it is not a popular one," he said.

"We do have money in our reserves but what if other issues crop up? The St. Patrick Centre is not our responsibility and still owes Down Council £80,000."