Councillors clash in Newcastle centre row

Councillors clash in Newcastle centre row

6 January 2016

THE fall-out over Newcastle’s lack of a leisure centre continued at Newry Mourne and Down Council on Monday evening.

Asking for clarity from council officers, the SDLP’s Laura Devlin claimed there had been “significant misinformation” from Sinn Fein on social media.

She said some from the party were suggesting that if the council had pursued the original Donard Park site for the centre, instead of the St Mary’s School site, they would now be sitting in a new leisure centre.

Council officials have been attempting to secure the St Mary’s school site for the past number of years.

The protracted attempt included a deal which later fell through amid accusations the parish of Maghera was engaged in a “gazumping” exercise.

The council is now expected to switch its attention back to the original Donard Park site.

While noting the failure to secure the St Mary’s site was “extremely disappointing”.

Councillor Devlin sought confirmation from officers that it had been a collective decision to pursue this site. She also queried whether £8m had ever been specially set aside in the rates.

The council’s Recreation Director, Michael Lipsett, said it had been a notional amount on a list of recreation projects. He also noted a preference for a brownfield site amongst the public.

Sinn Fein members responded with details of council minutes, which indicated the SDLP’s pursual of the St Mary’s site.

Councillor Willie Clarke said that without a site agreed they were unable to pursue loans and described the aftermath as a “debacle”.

Sinn Fein’s Stephen Burns said the SDLP and others had clearly done a “flip flop” on the chosen site.

DUP councillor Billy Walker argued that any blame should be directed towards the parish.

“It is very sad the blame game has started,” he said.

Describing Newcastle as the “premiere destination” for the district, he urged that a solution be found.

After the debate Councillor Devlin said: “I am glad to see Sinn Fein now admitting that this £7-8m figure was notional, as their local councillors clearly said on social media that this money was in the rates and ended up being redistributed to other projects when council opted to pursue the St Mary’s site.

“We now know this is a total mistruth and I thank the officer for the clarification.”